Facilitating human-elephant coexistence in Asia

Amidst these challenges, the resilience of farmers shone through. We encountered two cinnamon farmers who, undeterred by setbacks, promptly planted new crops on their damaged land. This adaptability exemplified the farming community's unwavering resolve and ingenuity in adversity. Sudharma (pictured below with our agricultural consultant, Aruna) and her father, Siripala, embody the spirit of our alternative crop project in Sri Lanka. Upon our initial meeting, they eagerly embraced the chance to delve into cinnamon cultivation and persevered despite enduring extreme weather conditions.

In late January, our enthusiastic PhD student, Sateesh Venkatesh, embarked on his first day of data collection with great excitement! He eagerly joined the field team in deploying 40 camera traps to observe elephant behavior around farmers' fields - a pivotal aspect of our project. Sateesh, Dr Shermin de Silva's student, has been working hard with the field team designing our camera trap methods along with our team in Thailand. We love the dynamic snapshot below of Sateesh (right) and Kumara (left), our research supervisor, engaging with a local family and showcasing the drone used for field mapping their land. It encapsulates Sateesh's enjoyment of interacting with people, navigating through fields and streams, and tackling the occasional technical glitch with enthusiasm and perseverance!

Meanwhile, in Thailand, our partner's efforts have focused on establishing a sustainable alternative crop supply chain. Through initiatives such as the Fairtrade Community Enterprise and the microloan program local farmers have been empowered to transition to elephant-friendly crops like lemongrass, citronella and galangal. The success of these initiatives serves as a proof of concept for our approach to promoting economic resilience and ecological sustainability within communities.

Our surveys and assessments have yielded valuable insights into the dynamics of human-elephant interactions in Sri Lanka and Thailand. By documenting farmers' experiences and attitudes towards elephants and identifying suitable alternative crops, we are laying the groundwork for meaningful interventions that promote coexistence.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our donors, partners, and dedicated team members who have contributed to the success of this project. Your commitment to conservation and community empowerment is invaluable, and we look forward to continuing our journey towards human-elephant coexistence together.

Happy Earth Day and thank you for your continued support!

~The team at Trunks & Leaves