Saving Elephants: How You Can Take Action for Elephant Conservation and Communities Today
Africa’s elephants are under increasing pressure. As human populations grow and expand into wild landscapes, elephants face shrinking habitats and dwindling access to resources. In search of food and water, they often venture into farmland and villages, leading to escalating human-elephant conflict (HEC). This conflict is not just a conservation issue—it’s a human issue, affecting the lives and livelihoods of rural communities who share their land with these giants.
For many farming families, a single elephant raid can mean the loss of an entire season’s crops. This creates understandable frustration and economic hardship, leading to retaliatory killings of elephants that further threaten already vulnerable populations. Without action, HEC could undermine decades of elephant conservation efforts, accelerating their decline in some of Africa’s most important habitats.
But solutions exist, and they start at the grassroots level. Long-term success in protecting elephants isn’t about keeping people and wildlife apart—it’s about helping them live together. Conservation efforts must be community-led, integrating the knowledge and needs of local people with innovative approaches that safeguard both wildlife and livelihoods. African People & Wildlife (APW) is leading this charge in Tanzania thanks to a coalition of partners and supporters, implementing real-world solutions that empower communities to coexist with elephants and other wildlife.
A Conservation Success Story
APW’s work on human-elephant coexistence in Tanzania has been named a finalist in the 2024 ArcGIS StoryMaps Competition, a global challenge recognizing outstanding storytelling in conservation. Our interactive story map, "Charting a Path to Human-Elephant Coexistence in Tanzania", highlights the strategies and tools being used to reduce human-elephant conflict and protect both wildlife and rural livelihoods in the communities around the Ngorongoro Crater. And with your help, we can amplify its impact!
How You Can Help Elephants Right Now
1. Cast Your Vote for Elephant Coexistence
By voting for our StoryMap in the Community Choice Award, you can bring global attention to real, community-led solutions that keep elephants and people safe.
Vote for "Charting a Path to Human-Elephant Coexistence" before March 12: Cast your vote here
2. Support Coexistence Programs That Work
Community-led solutions are making a real difference. We have expanded human-elephant coexistence programs to the Greater Lake Natron area and the stretch of lands between Mkomazi National Park and Kenya’s Tsavo ecosystem. Just this month, we introduced GPS collars to track elephant movements, allowing us to better understand their routes and find sustainable solutions for reducing conflict.
However, shifts in conservation funding, including a sharp reduction in U.S. federal support for international conservation efforts, have severely impacted programs like our Mkomazi elephant initiative. Recent reports highlight how changes in U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service funding policies have affected conservation programs worldwide, and this article details the global repercussions of these abrupt cuts.
Consider doubling your usual gift to APW. As we celebrate 20 years of impact, we are looking ahead to 20 more years of coexistence solutions that work, but we need your support now more than ever to bridge this funding gap. Every dollar funds the tools, technology, and community programs needed to protect wildlife and the people who live alongside them.
3. Spread the Word About Elephant Conservation
Elephants need all of us. By sharing this story and mini action plan with your friends, family, and social media networks, you can inspire others to take action. The more awareness we create, the stronger our movement is to find a balance for people and nature.
- Read the full StoryMap: Charting a Path to Human-Elephant Coexistence
- Vote for our StoryMap by March 12 to shine a light on our programs: Vote here
- Donate to keep the momentum going: Make a gift today
The Future of Coexistence is in Our Hands
Human-elephant conflict is one of the greatest challenges facing African wildlife conservation today. But with the right strategies, community leadership, and global support, we can ensure a future where elephants and people thrive together. By voting, donating, and spreading awareness, you are playing a direct role in protecting these iconic animals and supporting the communities that share their landscapes.
