We begin our Moments of Gratitude series with this story from the Jhapa District in southeastern Nepal.
As part of our on-going conservation effort to mitigate human-elephant conflict in the area, Mr. Bishwanath Rijal (Nepal Country Coordinator) has been surveying local people to understand their perceptions of Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) and the existing problems. Recently, he had the privilege of interviewing an elder, Ms. Renuka Katwal, from Bahundangi. Below is an excerpt of their conversation.
How long have you been living in this village and have you seen elephants around here?
I’ve been here for 58 years, and I’ve seen elephants on occasions, typically 2 or 3 of them at a time.
How do you feel about the elephants when they come to your village?
The elephants are very gentle. They have their routes. They never try to harm us unless they feel threatened by humans.
How would people threaten the elephants?
I’ve seen villagers chase the elephants from different directions. People would use firecrackers, car horns and spotlights to drive them away. This creates conflict because it makes the elephants confused and agitated.
What do you think people should do when the elephants come?
I always tell my grandsons to not make any disturbance towards the elephants and stay home in a peaceful manner.
What is the reason for the elephants to be near the village?
They come here in search of food. When I married my husband and moved to this village, there were lots of trees in the nearby forests at that time. The elephants had plenty of food, so there was no conflict. But nowadays, there is a lack of forests, and their habitat and (migration) routes are disturbed by humans.
What can people do to reduce human-elephant conflict?
The elephants are not the problem; it’s the people who are causing them problems. Planting trees and restoring their habitat is important, and don’t disturb them using irritating sounds and lights. The elephants will follow their own path to go to their destination.
In your opinion, is it important to conserve the elephants in nature?
Yes, it is because every creature has a right to live on Earth.
