‘Elephant Watching’ for Mitigating Human-Elephant Conflict: A Case Study in Sri Lanka

The ongoing Human-Elephant Conflict (HEC) in Sri Lanka results the death of more than 300 elephants every year. Although HEC mitigation plans are place, measures not always implemented due to fund limitations. In present study, visitor demand for strategies as visitors’ willingness pay a conservation tax at park level has been estimated which could be used implementing conserve wild. A discrete choice experiment (DCE) was conducted three national parks presenting different options mitigating HEC. study found LKR 112.11, 85.38 and 95.37 (1USD = 180) maximum that visitors were willing conserving Minneriya (MNP), Wasgamuwa (WNP), Udawalawe (UNP) National Parks located North Central, Central Southern Provinces, respectively, Lanka. These economic values constitute useful reliable information policy makers determining appropriate entrance fees including