IFAW China Educates Locals on Asian Elephant Protection

“I know elephants have lived around us for many years. They sometimes come down and eat our crops. My mom told me they killed one of the villagers because he was trying to hurt them,” said the 24-year-old Hani girl, Sangfin.

China’s Wild Animal Protection Law provides compensation for crop damages caused by elephants, but it is not always enough to prevent elephant deaths.   “To address human-elephant conflicts, IFAW introduced the Asian Elephant Protection Project in Simao, Yunan five years ago,” said IFAW’s Dr. Zhang Li.

“The project was a success because it provided a solution to benefit humans and elephants allowing the local community to live in peace with wildlife.”

IFAW’s piloting scientific research has been conducted in Xishuangbanna National Nature Reserve (XNNR) for two years and the current work will provide significant data and evidence in guiding future community development and education sessions.
  
“Initiating community affairs through gradual education with respect to indigenous culture is an applicable way to protect wildlife in rural communities and adjusting rural economic structure can be a way of advancing dwellers’ living standard and awareness for elephant protection,” said Huang Jianguo, the deputy director of the management authority of XNNR.