28th April, 2021
At the beginning of the 20th Century more than 100,000 Asian elephants roamed the forests. Within a span of 75 years it is estimated that 40,000 – 50,000 elephants are left across Asia!
The Tenasserim area in Thailand, bordering Myanmar, is home to the one of the largest populations of Asian elephants. Within this area the Kuiburi National Park is home to 300 elephants. However, the border is unfenced and next to it are local pineapple plantations which have caused numerous human and elephant conflicts, damage to crops, and loss of farmers’ incomes. No matter what barriers are put up by the farmers, these intelligent giants find a way to eat their favorite pineapples.
Bring The Elephants Home (BTEH) is an international non-profit conservation group in Thailand. They work alongside forest communities to find sustainable solutions to co-existence with the elephants on the same lands. They believe when “the locals benefit, the elephants benefit, and the wider nature benefits”.
Three villages took the first steps to find win-win solutions for co-existence. See how they took up their Tom Yum project, taking its name from the Thai national dish. The solution is to grow crops that elephants dislike eating. Watch the video My Neighbour, An Asian Elephant, produced by "Our Better World".
Farmers planted lemongrass, chili bergamot, galangal, kaffir lime, ginger, basil, turmeric, mint chamomile and citronella which proved to be natural elephant deterrents. This resulted in planting biodiverse crops giving a steady income for such high demand produce. BTEH also teaches the farmers how to repurpose these crops into other essential items such as mosquito repellents, candles, soaps, and massage oils.
BTEH is also supporting their efforts to introduce ecotourism, homestays and elephant observations. These sustainable solutions provide income that may otherwise have been lost. BTEH has been engaging with the local communities through educational programmes, knowledge sharing, supporting forest maintenance, and help with growing and selling local income generating products.
In other districts of Thailand BTEH helped farmers install bee hives around crop plantations to keep elephants out. They hate bees! The honey harvested helped farmers earn alternative income.
The presence of the elephant is integral to Thai heritage and culture. The impact of engaging with local communities has led to protecting biodiversity, diversifying local livelihoods, and creating local rural employment. The community understands the benefits of having elephants as their neighbours, and become the voice for their survival.
Learn more about innovative solutions by Bring the Elephants Home and visit their webshop at:
http://www.bring-the-elephant-home.org/
https://www.facebook.com/BTEHpage/
