Human-Elephant Conflict Mitigation

Human-elephant conflict is one of the greatest threats to wild elephants.

Along with poaching, human-elephant conflict is one of the greatest threats to wild elephants. As the human population increases, elephants are left with less land to roam (only 6% of the whole of Africa is available to elephants), leading to increased contact between them and people. Our research aims to find win-win solutions to reducing conflict between rural communities and wild elephants. Projects include using SMART Towers and collars, drones, acoustic devices, vocalizations, chilli peppers, contraceptives, and scent corridors to deter elephants from villages, manage their overall population, and increase their land area.

Why is Human-Elephant Conflict on the Rise?

 

As our human population continues to burgeon, the territories that once belonged to the wild are slowly but surely being consumed for agriculture, infrastructure, and urban development. Alarmingly, only about 6% of the African continent remains available for elephants to roam freely. This shrinking space has led to increased interactions between elephants and humans. Such encounters are seldom without consequence. Elephants may invade farms, causing significant crop damage and economic losses, while villagers, in turn, may retaliate, leading to the injury or death of these magnificent creatures.

 

Adventures With Elephants: Spearheading Solutions

At Adventures With Elephants, we are deeply committed to the harmonious coexistence of humans and elephants. We are at the forefront of innovative research projects aimed at devising win-win solutions that can alleviate HEC.

Some of our groundbreaking initiatives include:

  1. SMART Towers and Collars: These devices help in real-time monitoring and predicting elephant movements, enabling local communities to be alert and prepared for potential encounters.
  2. Drones: Aerial drones can safely guide elephants away from human settlements, reducing the likelihood of direct confrontations.
  3. Acoustic Devices & Vocalizations: Elephants communicate using an array of vocalizations. By understanding and using these sounds, we can potentially influence their behavior, steering them away from potential conflict zones.
  4. Chilli Peppers: A simple, yet effective deterrent! Elephants dislike the strong scent of chilli, and farms surrounded by chilli barriers have shown fewer incursions.
  5. Contraceptives: Managing the overall elephant population can be a sustainable approach. Through the use of contraceptives, we can ensure a balance between their numbers and the available habitat.
  6. Scent Corridors: Just as chilli peppers deter elephants, certain scents can attract or guide them. Creating scent corridors can be a natural way to direct elephant herds toward safe zones, away from human settlements.

 

The endeavors at Adventures With Elephants are more than just research projects; they are a testament to the collective commitment to a future where humans and elephants can cohabit peacefully. With continued support and innovation, we believe that the African landscapes can once again reverberate with the thunderous strides of elephants, unhindered and unthreatened.