High densities of wild African savannah elephants (Loxodonta africana)
combined with widespread agricultural land use has led to increasing human-elephant
conflict in Botswana’s rural north. As documented within the existing scholarship,
negative encounters with elephants have visible impacts (e.g. crop/property damage,
injury/fatality) on the well-being of humans who live amongst them. By contrast, hidden
impacts (e.g. restricted movements, stress and emotional strain, disrupted routines)
remain poorly examined. Using social research methods, this thesis explores the diverse
ways in which conflict with elephants impacts the perceived well-being of humans living
in Greater Khumaga. It reveals that participants are most concerned about food insecurity
stemming from crop raids, as well as safety, mobility, and resource access issues
stemming from elephant veld presence. It further demonstrates that tensions between the
government and community exacerbate well-being circumstances. Overall, this research
emphasizes the importance of attending to visible and hidden well-being impacts of
human-elephant conflict.