Human Elephant Conflict HEC What is human elephant

Human Elephant Conflict (HEC) What is human elephant conflict? Human elephant conflict occurs when elephants and people live together in an area where they share the same resources. Therefore, they compete for the same food, space and water. Why does HEC happen? HEC occurs when people change elephant habitat into people habitat by clearing land to grow crops, building villages and adding roads.

What can happen when elephants are your neighbors? Elephants are attracted to many of the same food people grow. A family’s entire supply of crops can be eaten, leaving them with no food. • Elephants can become upset and destroy homes and property. • People can be hurt or even killed.

Project Study: Sumatra Elephant Conservation Response Units, Indonesia • This elephant conservation project protects wild elephants and creates job opportunities for local people. • It benefits both people and elephants. This is the mark of a successful conservation project.

Sumatran Conservation Response Unit (CRU) A strategy for Elephant Conservation in Sumatra • The Conservation Response Unit is made up of rangers whose job it is to protect the wild elephants and the local people and their property by reducing and preventing human-elephant conflict. • CRU rangers are elephant caregivers recruited from community. • The CRU elephants are seen as partners in conservation, instead of a danger.

Conservation Response Unit Tools Wide variety of innovative tools and practices

Conservation Response Unit Tools Wide variety of innovative tools and practices • Handheld GPS Unit • Ability to plot exact locations • Easily carried in forest • Allows tracking of elephant movements • Learn from local community members • Interviewing • Local Community • • Use villager knowledge Ability to create practical solutions Takes a picture as wildlife passes • Camera Trap • 24 monitoring of location • CRU can focus elsewhere

Conservation Response Unit Tools Wide variety of innovative tools and practices • Mahouts can patrol an area in danger • CRU Patrol • CRU elephants deter wild elephants • Villagers can be educated by ranger • Available from any cellphone • Geo-tagged • GPS, Date, Time Images • CRU use to discover elephant interactions

Human Elephant Conflict Solutions Practical & creative solutions used in unison Beehive Fence Biofence Education Leaflet Wildlife Corridor Buffer Zone Crops Chili Planting

Human Elephant Conflict Solutions Practical & creative solutions used in unison • • Biofencing • • Wildlife Corridor Thick palm trees form a strong fence Adult palmyra trees are self-sufficient • Requires community investment • Creates green paths for elephants • Protects historic migration routes • Depends on community involvement • CRU distribute to local villages • Education Leaflets • • To Do’s and Don’t Do’s Brings CRU into the village

Human Elephant Conflict Solutions Practical & creative solutions used in unison • Chili Planting • Irritant to elephants • Affordable for locals • Limited to individual homes • Some elephants fear bees • Beehive Fence • • Buffer Zone Crops • • Fashioned beehive fences for farmers Create income through honey sales Plant inedible crops around cash crops Coffee and tea commonly used Most effective on large farms