A Closer Look at East Africa’s Human-Elephant Conflict

March 25, 2021 CATALYST Team

Yes, conservation issues are about animals, but that’s only half of the story.

An African elephant. USAID Biodiversity and Forestry. CC BY-NC 2.0

Although most Westerners have a positive view of elephants, the reality is much different in Africa. For farming communities in the eastern part of the continent, elephants often pose an imminent danger to survival. Consuming up to 1,000 pounds of food per day, elephants can destroy farmers’ crops in a matter of hours, posing a severe threat to people’s livelihoods. Additionally, elephants can violently step on crops and buildings, causing human injury and even death. This leads to increased resentment of wildlife in East African farming communities, which results in targeted elephant killings that devastate conservation efforts. Although illegal poaching and wildlife trafficking are widely publicized, the violence brought about by the human-elephant conflict remains the largest threat to the species’s survival.

At the most fundamental level, the human-elephant conflict is brought on by competition for land and resources. As East Africa becomes more industrialized, humans and animals are forced to live in closer proximity than ever before. Tackling this issue is essential in order for conservation efforts to last in the region.

Conservation Efforts in East Africa

Bottle-feeding baby elephants. Pixabay. CC0

The World Wildlife Fund’s African Elephant Program is at the forefront of mitigating the human-elephant conflict. Working across Africa, the organization collaborates with conservationists and local communities to ensure a future for humans and elephants alike. The program’s objectives include establishing strong wildlife management and education programs, combating poaching and illegal wildlife trafficking, and advocating for legislation protecting elephants.

Another key facet of the World Wildlife Fund’s work is prioritizing education and outreach programs for young children. This allows the younger generation to help deconstruct negative stereotypes surrounding wildlife, potentially swaying entire communities in favor of conservation practices. However, educational resources aren’t easily accessible in many rural communities. In Kenya, for example, high school costs upward of $200 per trimester, which is not affordable for many families. Strengthening educational resources in rural regions is crucial to furthering conservation efforts.

It is also important to get community members involved in conservation efforts through outreach. Many conservancies directly empower farmers by providing financial compensation in exchange for dedicating a portion of their farmland for wildlife conservation. Conservancies allow people to directly interact with wildlife safely, learn from experts and participate in conservation work themselves.

Looking carefully at the human-wildlife conflict, it appears equally as much an environmental issue as a human one. According to wildlife conservation expert Greta Iori, “Our governments, conservationists and society at large must tackle the root causes, not only the symptoms.” Thus, to secure a future for both elephants and humans, it is essential to develop sound conservation practices that greatly benefit each.

To Get Involved:

Check out the World Wildlife Fund’s website and fundraising page to learn more about the organization’s work in securing a future for elephants and East African farmers.