October 24, 2000
Call of the wild All the local preventive devices will no longer be effective once the elephants learn to adapt to a new habitat, meaning disasters are unpredictable. Pictures courtesy of WILDLIFE FUND THAILAND Knowledge of natural behaviour and local assistance are necessary to stem the ever-increasing conflicts between wild elephants and farmers, which see crops ruined and elephants dying Ukrit Kungsawanich Uncle Plao, a 60-year-old villager in Si Sawat district, Kanchanaburi province, is at his wit's end. He has tried scarecrows, bamboo traps, noise-making equipment and even tall barbwire fences. But still he failed to keep hungry wild elephants away from his crops. Since last year, wild elephants have been paying Uncle Plao's village unexpected nightly visits, wreaking havoc in the villagers' lives. Uncle Plao's village is not alone. According to Alongkot Chukaew of the Elephant Research Project, Wildlife Fund Thailand, Si Sawat is just one of more than 12 settlements where villagers are struggling to protect their farms from wild elephants. "The elephants usually show up at night when villagers are asleep," said Alongkot, an expert on Thai wild elephants. "They trample on the crops and start their feasts right there on the farm." One elephant can eat up to 10 percent of its body weight. On average, an elephant weighs 3,000 kilogrammes, so will eat around 300 kg of food a day." By tradition, indigenous forest dwellers avoid harming elephants since they are viewed as sacred animals. But not all villagers share this belief and the degrees of destruction are different. Over the past five years, farm destruction by wild elephants has increased. So has the body count of elephants that have "died" in human settlements. Farmers are usually blamed by the elephant-loving public. Poorly informed and poorly equipped, the villagers are often left to solve this problem alone. Understanding the behavioural patterns of wild elephants, while assisting the villagers to resolve elephant conflicts peacefully, can help save the number of wild elephants from further dwindling, said Alongkot. Feasting at farms is a new habit for wild elephants, he explained. Contrary to public belief, hunger is not always the motivation. Alongkot's research has shown that there is sufficient food in the forest. But once their behavioural patterns change because of disturbances in their natural habitat, it is difficult to reverse them. On June 7, a dead male elephant found near a villager's farm in Si Sawat district set off the alarm bell for Alongkot Chukaew. Alongkot believes there are many factors involved. The claiming of forest land to expand human habitats is one. But also to blame are the big dams and the state's push for commercial cash crops for export, which consequently destroy vast tracts of forests. In the case of Si Sawat, Kanchanaburi, the problems stem from the Srinakarin Dam, which is near the Salak Phra National Park, Alongkot said. As the dam flooded parts of the forest, natural food sources were substantially reduced. Needing to readjust, the elephants found food in the villages. "The villagers like Uncle Plao don't know how to deal with elephants. They just want to scare them away but sometimes it doesn't work, and they can't afford losing their crops. It's such a dilemma," said Alongkot. It takes quite some time for elephants to adapt to the changes in their habitat, sometimes as long as five to 10 years, said Alongkot. Problem solutions Recommendations made by Alongkot Chukaew: "At present, there are only 1,975 wild elephants in Thailand, and the population is dwindling. To save them from extinction, immediate remediation and more research on shifting patterns of behaviour are necessary. This is no one-solution-fits-all. Each place is different topographically and culturally. Each case must be treated individually with attention paid to villagers' different way of life and elephant behaviour. It should be understood that there is no quick cure to alter the elephants' habits. However, it is essential to make them change their minds. First, make the farm area "unsafe". The villagers should get help to deter the elephants using different tactics such as barbwire or electric fences. Loud noises also help to scare the elephants away and force them back to the forest where they belong. The elephants will stop coming into the area if they sense dangers await them. Secondly, related organisations must protect the remaining forest lands from logging, hunting, and tourism. Such activities force the elephants from the wilderness into human settlements. Thirdly, local knowledge is the best resource for researchers to help design measures against elephant attacks. The villagers know best about their terrains and how the elephants are behaving in their villages. Finally, elephants are very intelligent and their behavioural patterns change with new experiences. It usually takes them no more than a month to learn how to conquer the prevention techniques of humans. Therefore, the evaluation and research on wild elephants must be conducted over long periods with frequent follow-ups to ensure an accurate body of information on behavioural patterns." During this time, the elephants stay in the forest and observe the transformation of their original territory. They have to make sure that new turf is safe for them. But once they enter human settlements and find safe spots, it is difficult to bring them back to the forest. "If the new food sources are safe, they will keep coming back. Regardless of any technique or device that the locals come up with, they will find their way into the farm. Elephants are very smart." So, in order to keep the elephants away, Plao and his fellow villagers may have to look to technology to help. But, this is a costly option, one which cannot be afforded. And unfortunately, the elephants will learn how to deal with new tricks, and all the villagers' efforts and money will be wasted. In Si Sawat these days, villagers rotate a night shift to guard the neighbourhood from elephants by driving around on a truck. They scare off the animals by shining lights and making noises. "You have to be cautious and alert all the time, since elephants have very light footsteps. I remember once when we camped out to watch the elephants. We all fell asleep and when we woke up, the camp was a mess. None of us heard any sound, yet the herd was right next to us," said Alongkot. With the rising oil prices, driving a truck around every night poses a hefty financial burden on the villagers. And in this time of economic depression, it is agonising for the villagers to see their crops ruined overnight. At Si Sawat, monks have also chipped in to help villagers and elephants come to a peaceful solution. They believe one way to save the elephants is to give compensation to the farmers whose crops are destroyed. So they helped the villagers organise a religious pa-pah (presentation of robes to monks) fund-raising ceremony to set up a compensation fund. "When the government does not help, the locals must help themselves. Unfortunately, this fund is fast running out, and the problem is getting more severe." To date, two people have been killed and three injured in Si Sawat owing to conflicts with wild elephants. The conflicts, Alongkot predicted, will intensify unless there is more understanding of elephant behaviour, and the villagers are allowed to be involved in mapping solutions. "Many villagers want to live in peace with elephants, but to be able to do so, they need all the help they can get." Info for donations: - Name of the organisation: Wildlife Fund Thailand - Contact person: Alongkot Chukaew - Address: 251/88-90, Tavorn Villa 1, Phahon Yothin Road, Bangkhen, Bangkok 10220 - Tel: 521-3435, 552-2111 - Fax: 552-6083 - Account Name: Wildlife Fund Thailand - Bank Name: Bangkok Bank (New Phetchaburi branch) - Account Number: 153-0-15308-7 - Account type: Savings - "We care" is a fortnightly series honouring people who believe in giving. In addition to supporting these causes, you can let us know about people who unselfishly help others so we can make more people aware of their efforts. Fax "We care" on 240-3668 or call 240-3700 ext 3208 or 3212. 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