By Tiffany Goh
Human-elephant interactions are increasing and causing major problems for both people and elephants. These conflicts happen when elephants wander into human areas, damaging crops and sometimes threatening lives. The issues arise from shrinking elephant habitats, more human settlements taking over traditional elephant areas, and competition for resources.
The situation for Sumatran elephants in Indonesia is alarming. A report from WWF Indonesia indicates that from 2004 to 2013, 129 critically endangered Sumatran elephants died in Riau province alone, highlighting the need for urgent conservation efforts.
To tackle this issue, conservationists are using a multi-faceted approach that is showing promise. They focus on protecting elephant habitats, educating local communities about elephant behavior, and creating ways to keep elephants away from human settlements to help the survival of these vulnerable animals, especially in areas like Sumatra where their numbers have drastically decreased.
In Riau Province’s Tesso Nilo (Sumatra, Indonesia), the relationship between people and elephants has been difficult. Elephants often trample crops looking for food, leading to significant economic losses for local farmers. Some villagers, frustrated by these losses, have even tried dangerous measures like poisoning fruit to keep elephants away.
Fortunately, a new approach to coexistence is evolving, bringing hope for a better future.
A flying squad elephant stands tall, its mahout guiding it through the forests of Tesso Nilo National Park. These trained elephants serve as guardians of their kind, helping to safely steer wild herds away from farms and prevent conflicts with communities.
Behind this initiative, the (YTNTN)—an independent organization separate from Balai Besar Taman Nasional Tesso Nilo (BTNTN)—and Musim Mas have spent years building trust with local communities and educating them on how to mitigate conflict without harming elephants. As part of this long-term mitigation strategy, the Foundation has trained three elephants to lead mitigation efforts.
Beyond conflict mitigation, the project has shown significant economic and social impact, particularly for local women and farmers. By providing sustainable livelihood opportunities, the initiative has helped rural communities cope with and recover from the challenges posed by human-wildlife conflict. The program supports a women’s group in generating , growing crops that elephants avoid, and composting elephant dung into organic fertilizer.
Composting elephant dung into valuable organic fertilizer for local farms is an example of the ripple effect created by the initiative. While not directly part of our program, this sustainable practice has emerged through the Indonesian Environment Fund program (Badan Pengelola Dana Lingkungan Hidup/ BPDLH). It not only helps reduce waste but also provides an additional source of income for the community, promoting conservation and economic empowerment. The fertilizer is also used to nourish the crops they cultivate.
Women carefully tend to elephant food crops such as cempedak, jackfruit, and bamboo, which are sold to YTNTN to support its goal of planting them across 10 hectares of elephant habitat in Tesso Nilo and in our conservation areas along elephant routes. Their efforts provide both sustenance for the elephants and financial stability for their families.
The women group also grows and sells plants that elephants dislike, helping farmers protect their land from wildlife conflicts. Crops from Rutacaea family, mainly kaffir lime (Citrus hystrix), produce essential oils that naturally deter elephants.
Trials have been conducted by planting five types of citrus in three community farms along elephant paths. While the planting area remains small, elephants have not visited these farms. This initiative helps create a natural barrier against elephants while providing an additional source of income for the community.
What was once a battle for survival for elephants and humans has transformed into a model of elephant conservation that benefits both people and wildlife. The flying squad stands as a symbol of this progress. Local women and farmers are proving that wildlife conservation and economic growth can go hand in hand, demonstrating that protecting wildlife doesn’t mean sacrificing livelihoods but rather finding new ways to thrive together.
