Living with Elephants: The Uttar Kannada Story

Hello Friends. We are very excited to share our latest film showcasing WRCS's efforts to empower and train farmers to protect their crops from elephants using simple and farm-based solutions. Our ongoing work of 12 hard years has been succinctly captured in this film of 12 minutes 51 seconds brilliantly by expert film makers, Seema and Murali from Beacon Films. This the the story of two powerful species, Elephants and Humans, in the picturesque landscape of Uttar Kannada (North Kanara) district. Kali Tiger Reserve supports a population of about 60 wild elephants. The periphery of Kali Tiger Reserve is laced with acres of fragrant paddy fields, sugarcane, maize, coconuts, banana and areca nut orchards. The happily swaying crops and fragrance emitting from ripe crops is very intoxicating and Elephants can not control the urge to feed on such tasty, nutritive and free for all food. From August to February, they sneak in to the crop fields and feed on the crops. Now, this does not go too well with the farmers as their months of hard work and finances has gone down the guts of the elephants! So at times, elephants get punished for their misdoings. Here's when WRCS steps in with our Community-based Elephant Conflict Management Model aka CBCM. Our dedicated team of Project Officers work day and night, training and motivating the farmers in using CBCM methods of protecting the crops from the elephants. This film showcases WRCS's long-term efforts in implementing CBCM to keep both the species at bay using these techniques. We are indebted to Asian Elephant Conservation Fund, US Fish and Wildlife Service for their conviction in WRCS's work. The Program Managers of AECF has provided strong support for the work on a long-term basis, enabling us to have continued presence in the area. We are working in close collaboration with Karnataka Forest Department and have been able to realize our work plan with the support of dynamic Forest officers of Karnataka. We invite you to spare your 12 minutes to watch the film and we are sure you will like it. Please like and share the link of this film in your network and help in conservation of elephants and people in the larger landscape! Thank you.

[@ElizaKambrekar]

Very nice and beautiful video

[@anupamamuley3745]

Such good work and effort to maintain the balance between man and wildlife. 👍👍👍

[@ShashankKulkarni-i7r]

Excellent work, JayPrach!!

[@sardhasati5340]

Too good, very informative

[@Insearch224]

Very Informative 👍

[@ribhavbansal]

Very informative and well-made video. The video proves that humans and animals can co-exist with each other and the farmers benefiting from these methods used such has honey harvesting is a 🍒 on the 🍰

[@harinaiyanna8992]

Amazing documentary that literally portrays ways to co-exist with Elephants. Amidst people with zero tolerance for agriculture loss from wildlife and their harsh prevention measures, Nature based solutions such as bees and low cost methods such as these can bolster land sharing and coexistence! 🫡

[@yogeshkumar2663]

Very informative and beautiful video ma'am..

[@antarakulkarni7060]

Awesome work! Hope to see more of such documentation in the future too :D

[@niteshpappu2146]

Very innovative and resourceful solutions 👍🏻 Hat's off to the efforts and dedication

[@hariharaniyer770]

Beautiful documentary Jayant and team. Looking forward to more documentaries on your exemplary conservation efforts.

[@namitamukerji6913]

Kudos...very good ideas . The magnificent elephants are safe from human anger. Farmers are happy that their crops are not damaged. Co existence at its best!

[@GayithriLn]

A very good effort to prove co existence avoiding human elephant conflict. May be possible to replicate on large areas.

[@GayithriLn]

A very good effort to prove co existence avoiding human elephant conflict. May be possible to replicate on large areas.

[@ravindrawankhadeifs]

Excellent initiative with scientific approach to address the major issue of wildlife conservation. Congratulations to Prachi and Jayant for trying innovative practices with the cooperation of the local inhabitants. The success is more relevant as people have accepted the approach as it can be implemented without much expenses. The use of honeybees to deter elephants would prove to be very effective and a long term solution. It would also be ecological and may augment the income and livelihood of the people. Such innovative interventions will go a long way in coexistance.

[@lordssuvratasuvrata2671]

Very nice ideas Should be adopted by all where elephants come So that human animal conflict can be reduced considerably

[@lordssuvratasuvrata2671]

Co existence is possible if we sit discuss chalk out ideas Not harming huge intelligent creatures

[@dilipjoshi5901]

Excellent work 👍👍

[@pradeepfulay2380]

This is absolutely amazing! Real world impact on how to manage human animal conflict in an effective and practical way ! Congratulations to Prachi and Jayant and all the team members!!

[@abhinavbansal8068]

Love the shots, narration and how detailed imitations were done by one of the farmer

[@DrDilipG]

Amazing video Jayant Prachi. Keep up the good work. It is heartening to see the support you are getting from farmers as well as government agencies 🎉🎉

[@swatimuley8495]

Wa good contribution for nature preservation. But most difficult, dangerous life style to deal with wild life on daily basis

[@pranaygandhi9121]

Excellent initiative in addressing Man-Elephant conflict! Completely agree with everything - except when it was mentioned to burn plastic - This should be avoided at all costs! The fumes from burnt plastic are toxic and one should try to limit plastic in wild places as much as possible.

[@uttiyabandyopadhyay45]

Excellent video film. Very well managed basic technics to keep the damage done by elephants at bay, outwih the human living areas So long we also give their freedom and space and learn to live with the elephant community in a peaceful coexistance.Well done.

[@ppuram]

Excellent example of peaceful coexistence

[@shubhangipansare5347]

Superb video- very informative👌👌

[@sdl6318]

Very nice and beautiful

[@georgekutty5466]

Nice and beautiful video

[@rajeshbande1136]

First kannadigas den all ur .give preference mam. I know ur mother tongue isn't kannada like most of dem in d is state .please put dos kannadigas first

[@lordssuvratasuvrata2671]

So if u harm they rem and will come n teach u a lesson

[@lordssuvratasuvrata2671]

Do rem elephants have enormous memory