Smoothing out the human-elephant conflict

Sumatran elephant

(Elephas maximus ssp. sumatranus)

IUCN 级别

LC 无危

CR 极危

EX 灭绝

The challenge

Resolving the conflict between man and elephant

In the exploitation of natural resources, where do humans draw the line? Similarly, in the fight for survival, when do animals know not to overstep the boundaries? Such is the conflict between local villagers and Sumatran elephants living along the boundaries of Way Kambas National Park in Sumatra, Indonesia.

This 125,000-hectare reserve is home to nearly 200 native wild elephants – representing a little over 10 per cent of the remaining population and the largest connected group of this critically endangered species. The reserve also has an abundance of natural resources, which has attracted illegal logging, poaching, land cultivation and livestock grazing activities. The aggressive nature of these activities has threatened not only the integrity of the reserve, but also the safety of the elephants.

The depletion of their natural habitat has resulted in elephants wandering beyond the park’s confines and into human settlements. These giant land mammals have ventured into fields and villages, helping themselves to the crops as well as stores of rice grain, and occasionally damaging property and endangering lives. Threatened by the encroachment of the elephants, locals have retaliated against them.

The goal

Training humans and elephants to be envoys for peace

To resolve this human-elephant conflict, education and enforcement have been key mitigation strategies. Local programmes have been conducted to educate affected communities on how to co-exist with wild elephants. At the same time, Elephant Response Units (ERUs) have been formed through the extensive training by their managers, also known as mahouts.

The ERUs usually each comprise five elephants and their mahouts. They patrol the forest, paying attention to conflict hotspots, collecting research data and serving as a deterrent to illegal human encroachment into the park. At the same time, and most importantly, the ERUs help to herd elephants away from fields and villages back into the park.

Our role

Providing aid when it’s needed most

Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS) funds the operation of the ERUs that monitor and safeguard the park’s resident wild elephants. We also support the expansion of these units to increase their coverage and effectiveness. Furthermore, we provide medical care for the park’s elephants, occasionally deploying veterinarians and facilitating transfer of knowledge on animal husbandry.

The outcome

Preserving the sanctuary of our gentle giants

Educating the community, conducting regular patrols and monitoring activities in and around Way Kambas National Park, have helped preserved the integrity of the park. In total, an average of 150 patrols were conducted over a three-month period.

These efforts have helped to ensure a home for the elephants while assuring humans of a peaceful co-existence with these gentle giants.

Beyond our direct involvement in Sumatra, WRS is actively involved in numerous other efforts to ensure a holistic approach to conservation of Asian elephants. Examples of these are:

Taking the lead in creating the Asian Elephant endotheliotropic herpesviruses (EEHV) Working Group. EEHV is a type of herpesvirus, which can cause a highly fatal hemorrhagic disease when transmitted to young Asian elephants. WRS has taken the lead for effective collaboration and is working on a strategy to best understand and prevent the disease in elephant calves in Asia. Read more about the strategy.

Playing an active role in Asian Captive Elephant Working Group. The welfare of captive elephants is a topic of intense debate among animal managers, conservationists, scientists, the public, animal welfare/rights groups and the media. Recognising the urgent need to create more awareness about both the problems and the possible solutions as well as provide recommendations to improve health care and management practices for captive elephants in the ASEAN countries, WRS along with a group of regional elephant specialists, veterinarians, researchers and conservationists, formed Asian Captive Elephant Working Group (ACEWG) in June 2015. Find out more about the proposed recommendations.

Hosting of international conservation events such as the 15th International Elephant & Rhino Conservation and Research Symposium at Singapore Zoo in 2016. Over 170 participants from around the world shared findings and discussed conservation strategies pertaining to the various elephant and rhino species in their respective range countries. This meeting was well received and paved the way for collaboration among many experts and concerned groups.