Biophysical disturbances of elephant safaris in the Royal Chitwan National Park, Nepal

A study on elephant safaris in Royal Chitwan National Park, Nepal, reveals that while these safaris are perceived as eco-friendly alternatives to noisy Jeep safaris, they may cause significant biophysical disturbances. Research indicates that wildlife observation distances during elephant safaris often fall below 15 meters, which is considered too close and potentially harmful to wildlife. The study also found that perceptions of appropriate viewing distances by park staff aligned with biological severity thresholds, while other groups' perceptions would likely lead to unacceptable disturbance levels. This suggests a disconnect between human perception and actual biological impacts.

Subedi, B. R. (2017). Biophysical disturbances of elephant safaris in the Royal Chitwan National Park, Nepal. Banko Janakari, 9(2), 15–19. https://doi.org/10.3126/banko.v9i2.17660