Farmers and elephants clash in Ethiopia's Chebera Churchura National Park over land use

The park, home to one of Ethiopia's largest elephant populations, was formally designated in 2005. Tensions escalated after a 2003 government resettlement program brought thousands of households to the fertile Dawro-Konta area, increasing the population in villages bordering the park. This expansion led to farmland overlapping with wildlife habitats, resulting in recurring conflicts between farmers and elephants.

Residents report significant crop damage from elephant incursions, with park data indicating up to 150 hectares of farmland affected annually. Efforts by farmers to deter elephants have sometimes turned deadly, with official records showing seven fatalities. Bizuayehu Betela recounted his father's death by an elephant in 2023 while attempting to protect their maize field.

Park officials and residents acknowledge the limitations of current mitigation measures, such as observation towers and strobe lights, which have provided some relief but are not seen as long-term solutions. Teshale Aymete, chief warden of the park, stated that crop-raiding elephants are the most persistent challenge. The park, operating on a limited annual budget of approximately six million birr, aims to implement longer-term solutions, including reinforcing elephant crossing points, constructing stone b