Mapping Two Decades of Human-Elephant Conflict Research in Sri Lanka (1999–2023): A Scopus-Based Bibliometric Analysis

Human-elephant conflict (HEC) remains a pressing concern in Sri Lanka, where human settlements and agricultural activities increasingly encroach upon the natural habitats of elephants. This bibliometric analysis aims to explore the existing research on HEC in Sri Lanka, identify major thematic areas in the literature, and analyze the trends and patterns in scholarly publications. A thorough literature retrieval was performed through Scopus database, resulting in a dataset of research articles, review papers, conference proceedings, book chapters, conference review, letter, and review. Visual mapping and bibliometric tools were applied to analyze articles on HEC published between 1999 and 2023 in the Scopus database. An assessment was carried out on 52 articles. Various bibliometric indicators were utilized to examine the trends in scholarly output, author contributions, institutional collaborations, and recurring research topics. The results reveal the heightened academic engagement with HEC research in Sri Lanka over the years, with a focus on topics such as elephant behavior, agricultural practices, mitigation strategies, and policy interventions. The analysis also highlights the collaboration networks among researchers and institutions involved in HEC research in Sri Lanka. Overall, this bibliometric analysis offers an in-depth overview of existing HEC research in Sri Lanka, highlights areas where further investigation is needed, and proposes directions for future research and policy actions aimed at mitigating HEC.