Cambodian Elephants ConservationCambodia

Cambodian Elephants

A Complicated Relationship

Elephants are one of the planet's most beloved animals. But as humans and elephants are living closer together than ever before, our relationship with these gentle giants has become complicated.

A Space Problem

Elephants require a vast amount of space to roam, socialise with family and forage for food. As humans encroach into habitat, their homes shrink. As both elephants and humans try to protect their own livelihoods, their worlds collide.

A Large Loss

In Cambodia’s Cardamom Mountains, crop-raiding elephants are a daily issue for farmers. Rural communities can lose an entire harvest overnight to a herd. These crops, which often feed and sustain people in poor areas, are completely destroyed. In an effort to protect what’s theirs, people sadly lash out at the animals. It’s up to us to save the elephant.

Give $20 and provide a farmer with thick rope to soak in chilli oil and use as fencing to protect one acre of crops.

Friendly Neighbours

Elephant Wardens are finding ways to keep the peace and help endangered elephants and people live together in an increasingly crowded world. When elephants enter farms or villages, detection sensors alert the response teams. Prepared with flashlights and noise-makers, the team are able to deter the animals from coming further into the village and encourage them to return to more suitable habitat

Make a gift of $100 to provide the incident response teams with a small supply of fireworks, flashlights and other noise-makers to deter crop-raiding elephants.

Coming Together

The teams on the ground also help communities create friendly ways to protect their property and save elephants. Using materials such as bamboo, beehives and chilli, they can deter elephants and avoid habituation. They’ve found bamboo in a tight fence formation is impenetrable for large animals, chilli soaked cotton rope can dissuade curious characters and most elephants will actively avoid beehives strung together for fear of being stung.

Donate $50 and help locals build up to 50 metres of beehive fencing to discourage elephants. It will also provide them with additional income through the sale of elephant-friendly honey and bee products.

A Loving Community

Education in Cambodia’s elephant hotspots is helping to eliminate conflict. Teaching local farmers, villagers and school children about the importance of elephant conservation, helps encourage the people closest to them, to love, respect and truly protect these magnificent animals.