Introduction to TERF projects :
Human Elephant Conflict (HEC)

In Thailand, Human Elephant Conflict (HEC) has been recorded as an issue in communities around 14 protected areas. There is no national overview of the problem and nor is there a national database to record and monitor whether the instances of HEC are increasing, decreasing or staying the same at either the local or national level.

TERF Project detail

Human Elephant Conflict (HEC)

Human Elephant Conflict (HEC) is the term to describe the problems caused by elephants when they raid crops, cause economic loss or cause damage to property or human life. HEC occurs in all the countries where elephants still live in the wild – both in Asia and in Africa – and in all of these countries the frequency and intensity of the problem is increasing. Many organizations in many countries are trying to find ways to solve the HEC problem and there have been numerous research studies on the causes and effectiveness of various methods to stop HEC or at least reduce the level of impact.

Over the last 30 years, elephant habitat has been dramatically reduced throughout Asia due to destruction of forest for farms, settlements, roads, recreational facilities, dams and other human needs (see Asia Map). However, no-one has told the elephants that they can no longer use these areas and now have to remain in the patches of forest and wilderness that are left.

Throughout Asia, there are cases of elephants, usually the bulls, leaving the protected areas and forest and entering agricultural areas to feast on the crops growing there. Some enter villages causing damage to property and in some cases taking human lives. The people living in close proximity to elephant habitats are, needless to say, less than happy with these large marauders and often take action to try and prevent the elephants from entering farmlands and villages with mixed success.

In short, it is TERF's HEC Project's mission to offer the general and specialized public constant monitoring of Human-Elephants Conflict zones in Thailand, developing full Diagnostics and pointing Solutions paths. Also, to build a network of researchers, society representatives and the general public, with the aim of sharing case studies and the practical knowledge gathered during conflict studies.

As specific objectives of TERF's HEC Project we could list: to organise and coordinate Annual Seminars on Human-Elephant Conflicts (HEC), to conduct field trips to continuously monitor Human-Elephant Conflict zones witihin Thailand, to develop Materials, Reports and Solutions which can be shared with society and policy makers, to develop an Annual Human-Elephant Conflict Survey publication.