Protecting elephants in Tanzania
We're working in Tanzania to help farmers safeguard produce without harming elephants.
Farming in elephant habitats
We’ve been working in Mikumi National Park in Tanzania for five years. It’s a natural elephant habitat which is close to local farmland. This can cause problems for farmers in the area, as the elephants often eat or crush maize crops, sometimes destroying a whole year’s income. To protect their livelihoods, farmers respond with extreme measures that can kill elephants — like poisoning crops they know elephants will eat. We’re working to provide practical solutions that keep elephants safe and protect crops.
We’re helping to reduce conflicts between elephants and farmers, using simple ideas involving bees and chili
Our solution
Together, we are creating solutions to deter elephants without harming them. With their sensitive trunks, elephants despise the smell of chili peppers. Bee stings are also painful for them, even just the sound of bees is enough to deter a wandering herd. World Animal Protection is training local farmers to build and maintain fences made of old engine oil and chili soaked rope. Beehives are also being built nearby and the honey produced is harvested for sale to support the community.
Our future work
Farmers in Mikumi are still building new fences and hanging new hives — and farmers in neighbouring communities have started doing the same. We’re also working with farmers on ways to reduce conflicts with local lions, leopards, hyena and livestock. We’re encouraging local governments and authorities to introduce similar solutions elsewhere. We also recently helped the Tanzanian government write new legislation to reduce conflict between wild animals and communities.
Thank you
World Animal Protection acknowledges the generous support of the Aage V. Jensen Charity Foundation and TUI Care Foundation for our work to protect elephants in Tanzania.
Latest news about our work with elephants
Brighten the lives of elephants this holiday season
This year, your greatest wish for the holidays may be to safely enjoy good times with friends and family after months of separation. You might already be...
Meet the Elephants at Kindred Spirit Elephant Sanctuary
High-welfare venues such as Kindred Spirit Elephant Sanctuary, in Thailand, have been closed to visitors since the pandemic began. But you have been a lifeline...
How much do you know about elephants?
Take our quiz to test your knowledge about these gentle giants.
Wild animal warrior helps Thai tourist venue become elephant friendly
Meet Dee Kenyon, our Elephant Venue Project Manager in Thailand. She helped an elephant venue transition from low welfare conditions, where elephants were...