Too Close for Comfort: The Effect of Wildlife Guides on Elephant Behaviour

A complex relationship exists between wildlife tourism, conservation, and elephant (Loxodonta africana) well-being in South Africa. The success of the tourism industry may come with environmental, socio-cultural, and elephant well-being challenges as increased tourism may lead to elevated stress hormone levels and a potential decrease in elephant behavioural flexibility and tolerance towards vehicles. In private reserves, guides may approach elephants more invasively to enhance the tourist experience through proximity, increasing the likelihood of triggering discomfort or aggression in the animals, and therefore increasing the opportunity for human–elephant conflict. Elephant behavioural responses, categorized into six groupings (Aggression, Ambivalent, Avoidance, Conflict & Confrontation, Interactive, and Vigilance), were measured to better understand their coping strategies towards vehicle proximity. Additionally, an evaluation tool where detailed behaviours were classified into different triggering zones (Comfort Zone, Alert Zone, Warning Zone, and Critical Zone) was utilized to gain a deeper understanding of elephants' behavioural responses. We hypothesized that elephants would alter their behaviour when approached at different distances and towards individual wildlife guides implementing individual driving strategies. Our findings revealed significant increases in behavioural frequencies within the Ambivalent, Conflict & Confrontation and Interactive categories at closer approach distances (0–20 m). The study also showed a significant correlation between the various wildlife guides and the distances they approached the elephants from, resulting in significantly different behavioural frequencies within the Ambivalent and Conflict & Confrontation categories. Lastly, it was concluded that utilizing the Awareness Zone model, could be a better guideline for approaching elephants than a predetermined arbitrary distance. These findings emphasize the importance of balancing the economic benefits of wildlife tourism with appropriate attitudes to wildlife, such as approach strategies that do not exceed elephants' behavioural tolerance and ability to cope with different constraints within their environment. Tourist expectations and experiences need to be managed and adjusted to ensure the well-being of elephants and the safety of tourists.