Human-elephant conflict (HEC) poses a serious problem in Africa for both local livelihoods and elephant conservation. Elephant damage is the price local people pay for coexisting with this species, and is assumed to reduce tolerance for elephants. However, conservation-related projects, through the benefits they offer may enhance local tolerance toward elephants. This study aimed to examine how crop damage by elephants and the benefits gained from conservation activities affect local people’s tolerance toward elephants around Moukalaba-Doudou National Park in southwest Gabon based on long-term ethnographic research and interview surveys in two periods (2010 and 2019). Based on the results, crop damage by elephants had a significant negative impact on the local social economy, leading to a decrease in human population in the area and making local people highly resentful of elephants. However, in one of the villages where employment from research and conservation activities was concentrated, many acknowledged the benefits associated with wildlife and expressed high tolerance for elephants. These findings suggest that benefits from conservation activities can increase tolerance toward elephants, which is negatively affected by the crop damage they cause. However, it should also be noted that externally generated projects have limitations and drawbacks. It is important to establish a system in which the benefits of conservation are shared widely and distributed appropriately, and wherein income resources are diversified. Multisectoral interventions focusing on local socio-ecological vulnerability are needed to mitigate human-elephant conflict and advance the conservation of African elephants.

人象冲突 (HEC) 给非洲的当地生计和大象保护带来了严重问题。大象受损是当地人为与该物种共存而付出的代价，并被认为会降低对大象的容忍度。然而，与保护相关的项目通过它们提供的好处可能会增强当地对大象的容忍度。本研究旨在基于两个时期（2010 年和 2019 年）的长期人种学研究和访谈调查，研究大象对作物造成的破坏以及保护活动所带来的好处如何影响当地人民对加蓬西南部穆卡拉巴-杜杜国家公园周围大象的容忍度. 根据结果​​，大象对农作物的破坏对当地社会经济产生了显着的负面影响，导致该地区人口减少，并使当地人对大象非常不满。然而，在研究和保护活动就业集中的村庄之一，许多人承认与野生动物相关的好处，并对大象表示高度容忍。这些发现表明，保护活动带来的好处可以提高对大象的容忍度，而大象受到大象造成的作物损害的负面影响。但是，还应该指出的是，外部生成的项目具有局限性和缺点。建立保护利益广泛共享、分配合理、收入资源多元化的制度。