I Worry

When I started photographing elephants a decade ago, ivory trade was the biggest threat to their existence. Slowly, the tide began to shift, and ivory bans were introduced to increase their protection. Although poaching hasn’t completely stopped, the biggest threat to these gentle giants today is not driven by our desire for ivory, but human-wildlife conflict. Human wildlife conflict is not an old concept, but as our towns and cities expand, our resource need swell, our national parks and protected areas are reducing. And the pressure on them is ever increasing. Historic wildlife corridors are built over and large species such as elephants often feel trapped in the fringes of national parks. When they devour a nearby farm, eating a years’ worth of food in a single night, they are only feeding themselves. When a farmer attacks a herd of elephants, he is only protecting his income and family’s future. There are no winners.

Due to public pressure these issues are finally starting to be addressed with conservation organisations working tirelessly with local communities to get their buy in for conservation efforts. Protocols are being set up for when elephants arrive at a farm and measure such as ‘herding elephants’ away from farms using a helicopter are being used to diffuse the conflict. Migratory corridors are being reopened but something more fundamental needs to shift; our approach to development, how we plan our towns and cities and most importantly our attitude to living alongside our wild neighbours.

​Amboseli National Park,  2014