While ways to deal with charging elephants in parks is well known, human-elephant conflict occurs every day in the wider world, which results in hundreds of human and elephant casualties yearly. Village populations spend a good chunk of time protecting their crops from being eaten by elephants, or their homes from being accidentally trampled on- an issue that spans across both the African and Asian regions. What we’re merely seeing here, however, is just an elephant being an elephant. But due to their supposed encroachment on ‘human territory’, they are subsequently killed by electrocution, poisoning, shot, or all of the above. For many who are unaware of the alternatives, the simplest solution is to kill the creature, and in so doing, kill the 'nuisance’. More lastingly is the animosity towards elephants that perpetuates, and subsequently passed down to future generations. This cannot by any means, be sustainable for both the human or the elephant species.
We all share the same space. No problem should ever have to result in death.
Support organisations such as the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust and the Born Free Foundation that seek to reduce human-elephant conflict in ethical ways, by promoting alternatives to deter elephants from villages while ensuring pathways for sustainable livelihoods. Because all lives matter.
“All breathing, existing, living sentient creatures should not be slain, nor treated with violence, nor abused, nor tormented, nor driven away.”
-Mahavira