Asian Elephant Conservation
The Los Angeles Zoo’s Participation
Photo Courtesy of Fauna & Flora International |
The Asian elephant is endangered. Elephants have been hunted illegally for their tusks (ivory), and much of their habitat has been destroyed. Scientists estimate that there are 35,000 wild elephants left in Asia. The Los Angeles Zoo has aided Fauna & Flora International’s (FFI) efforts to conserve Asian elephants in Cambodia for several years, providing financial support and expertise as they work to secure the future of the native Asian elephant population.
Since 1996, FFI has been working to conserve and protect the Asian elephant population in Cambodia. In 2005, FFI helped establish the Cambodian Elephant Conservation Group (CECG), which strives to find a balance between elephant conservation and economic development in the region, while still preserving traditional cultures.
The FFI and CECG is working with Cambodians to help mitigate human-elephant conflict and educate people about the needs of elephants, all the while maintaining the elephants’ native habitat.
One of the ways the CECG is achieving these goals is by changing the way Cambodians farm to help prevent human-elephant conflict before it starts. For example, they’re educating people to grow crops that are less desirable to elephants, like cucumbers and cashews. These types of crops are doubly beneficial - not only are they less attractive to elephants, but they also are more profitable crops which means the farmers can upgrade their quality of life.
Aside from being continually on-call, CECG staff dispatches help in less than 24 hours if there is a problem with an elephant. By offering services such as these, CECG offers long-term solutions and gives people somewhere to turn when an issue arises. When elephants raid locals’ crops, CECG show farmers how to work together to hold back the elephant. They’ve also timed the planting of crops according to when elephants are the most attracted to them. By doing this, people can anticipate the elephants’ arrival and guard the crops from watchtowers. If elephants are spotted, they sound a warning and villagers work together to shoo the elephants off. Many times noise is all it takes to turn the elephants around.
With efforts to curb poaching and the illegal hunting of elephants becoming increasingly effective, the biggest challenge facing Asian elephants is the loss of their habitat. Elephant populations grow slowly because of a number of reasons including a low population, long gestation periods and the large amount of space each elephant needs. These factors and more mean ensuring their security will take a long time.
The Zoo’s contributions to FFI have had a hand in changing the way elephants are treated and dealt with, and has helped preserve their habitat in Cambodia, specifically in the Cardamom Mountains. When you visit the Elephant of Asia exhibit at the Los Angeles Zoo you will have the opportunity to make a contribution towards the conservation of Asian elephants in Cambodia.