NOTE TO MEDIA: Images can be found in this Dropbox link. Photo credit can be provided to WTI.
(Kaziranga, Assam) - 55 representatives from 12 of the 13 Asian elephant range countries, members of the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) Asian Elephant Specialist Group (AsESG) members, other elephant experts, state forest departments, and non-governmental organizations came together for an international workshop on human-elephant conflict mitigation in Kaziranga, Assam from March 29-31, 2024.
The workshop is the first event hosted by the Center for Species Survival: Asian Elephant (CSS:AsE), a partnership between the IUCN SSC, Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), and the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.
CSS:AsE, hosted by WTI in India, serves as a collaborative range-wide resource center for Asian elephant conservation collaborators. Established in 2023, it aims to facilitate the exchange of scientific knowledge and conservation solutions among stakeholders in Asian elephant range countries.
The workshop focused on formulating guidelines to understand and aid the development of various human-elephant conflict mitigation strategies adopted across various range countries. The group deliberated on the issues and challenges and discussed holistic mitigation strategies for successfully reducing conflict by various countries such as the use of chain-link electric fencing and hanging fences, compensation mechanisms to address human-elephant conflict, establishment of early warning systems, and the integration of technology in human-elephant conflict management.
“It was good to get the Center for Species Survival: Asian Elephant off the ground with full participation by range countries and AsESG members,” said Vivek Menon, IUCN Councillor & Chair AsESG, IUCN SSC. “I am sure that the guidelines for conflict mitigation that emerge from this collaborative workshop will be helpful to manage the deteriorating relationship between humans and elephants.”
The Asian elephant, classified as ‘Endangered’ by the IUCN Red List, has a population ranging from 48,000 to 50,000 individuals across 13 range states and more than 60% of the wild population exists in India alone. This emphasizes the critical need to safeguard these animals and implement efficient strategies towards coexistence.
Michael Kreger, Vice President of Conservation for the Columbus Zoo, said, “I am so happy at how well the workshop went. Human-elephant conflict is the greatest threat to Asian elephants and is responsible for the loss of human lives, property, and agriculture. This first-ever event held by the CSS:AsE did exactly what it was set up to do—serve the range countries as a safe space to explore solutions for very complex elephant conservation challenges.”
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About the IUCN Species Survival Commission
With over 8,500 members in 186 territories, the Species Survival Commission (SSC) is the largest of the six expert commissions of IUCN and enables it to influence, encourage and assist societies to conserve biodiversity by building knowledge on the status and threats to species, providing advice, developing policies and guidelines, facilitating conservation planning, and catalyzing conservation action. Learn more at www.iucn.org/ssc.
Media Contact:
Aritzaith Lambright
Communications Coordinator
Aritzaith.rodriguez@ssc.iucn.org
About Wildlife Trust of India
Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) is a conservation organization established in 1998 with a mission to conserve nature, especially endangered species and threatened habitats, in partnership with communities and governments.
In its 25 years of operations, WTI has saved more than 50,000 animal lives, trained and equipped over 20,000 frontline forest staff, and assisted the govt. in creating 7 Protected Areas, sensitized 31 lakh children to conservation and assisted enforcement agencies in combatting wildlife crimes.
Media Contact:
Arinita Sandilya
Head of Communications
media@wti.org.in
About the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
Home to more than 10,000 animals representing over 600 species worldwide, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium leads by making a positive impact on people, wildlife, and wild places. The Zoo complex is a recreational and education destination that includes the 22-acre Zoombezi Bay water park and 18-hole Safari Golf Club. The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium also manages The Wilds, a 10,000-acre conservation center and safari park located in southeastern Ohio. The Zoo is a wildlife conservation organisation with regional, national and global impact, annually supporting conservation and research projects locally and worldwide. For more information, please visit ColumbusZoo.org.
Media Contacts:
Nicolle Gomez Racey
Vice President, Communications and Marketing
nicolle.racey@columbuszoo.org
Jen Fields
Director of Communications
jen.fields@columbuszoo.org
