Page 77 - World of Animals - Issue #30

Farmers are fighting back Saving elephants
These three organisations are leading the way for
Historically elephants were killed for their ivory tusks, but in recent elephant conservation in Africa and Asia
years retaliation killings and poisoning have become commonplace
Elephants have a large home range. It’s wildlife conflict. In many parts of Africa and Asia,

estimated that African elephants may need as elephants are considered pests because of their
much as 3,000 square kilometres (1,160 square destructive nature and tendency to trample
miles) of land to roam around in search of trees, raid crops and damage buildings. As they
food and water. To put that into perspective, walk through the land and migrate across the
that’s an area almost twice the size of London. savannah, they take advantage of tasty crops

In comparison, smaller Asian elephants need they find along the way. Elephants will support and comfort each
other in times of sadness and stress by
320 square kilometres ( 120 square miles) In India, elephants kill as many as 300 people rubbing trunks and making so vocal noises

at most. The ideal habitat is uninterrupted each year. Many of these deaths are the result of
Born Free
by human activity, but at a time when the crop raiding. A large, hungry herd of elephants B o r n F r e e
world’s population is growing and land is being can destroy years of hard work in minutes and Born Free are working in the field to

converted faster then ever before for residential the farmers are fighting back. Tactics from develop ways of easing human-elephant

and agricultural purposes, such an expanse lighting fires and banging drums, to throwing conflict. The Rathambalagama project is

can’t always be found. Elephants are finding firecrackers and using firearms are deployed in based in Sri Lanka, where 50 people are

themselves confined to small areas of suitable an effort to protect their livelihoods; however killed by elephants, and people kill 200

habitat with too few resources. Hungry and a 2,000-kilogram (4,400-pound) elephant elephants each year. The project aims to
thirsty, they are travelling through farmland and in search of a meal is tricky to deter, and this work with farmers in growing elephant-
developments, inevitably resulting in human- frequently results in tragedy. resistant crops. Plants such as ginger,
turmeric, and black pepper are unpalatable
“Elephants are fi nding to elephants and can be grown to subsidise
their earnings and increase their yield. This
themselves confined to small method is a potential lifeline to farmers who

regularly get visits from elephants in search
areas of suitable habitat with of food, by securing their livelihoods and
supplementing their income.
too few resources” WWF
Staying ahead of poachers isn’t easy
but the WWF is certainly giving it a
go. In Mozambique, the WWF worked
with the government to establish a
conservancy (Quirimbas National Park).
Alongside this, rangers were trained in
anti-poaching techniques and monitoring
elephant populations. Similar projects
have also taken place in Laos, Cambodia,
and Vietnam, where rangers have been
equipped and trained to handle any
potential threat. Poaching is usually part
of an organised crime operation, and
hunters use sophisticated methods and
equipment to get their hands on ivory. By
strengthening anti-poaching techniques
throughout the world, WWF hopes to
reduce the success of these groups.
Elephant Family
Elephant Family is the UK’s largest
funder to Asian elephants. It works with
organisations in persuading governments
and policy makers to take action. In Kerala,
India, it is helping to secure important
wildlife corridors, so elephants are free
to roam across the landscape. The Kerala
corridor is home to the largest stronghold
of Asian elephants in the world, so much
work goes on here to protect them.
Low-hanging power lines have become
death traps for elephants and it’s thought
many deaths could be avoided if power
supply companies maintained power
cables as regulations require. Elephant
Family is working hard to bring the issue
to the fore and hold the power supply
companies to account.

77

074-078_Conserving_the_elephant_WOA30.indd 77 03/02/2016 16:15