Born Free Foundation - Keep Wildlife in the Wild

Shrinking elephant habitats and expanding human populations mean people and elephants increasingly come into contact.  Elephants can be dangerous to humans, and can devastate crops and buildings.  Each year 50 people in Sri Lanka are killed by elephants and over 100 elephants are killed by farmers defending their crops, which can result in orphan elephants (see ETH).  Born Free works to humanely reduce human elephant conflict and promote practical and inexpensive ways to help people protect themselves and their crops.  This includes better fencing, deterrent crops (eg chillies) and early warning systems.  Supported by Born Free, the Sri Lankan Wildlife Conservation Society is working with local communities in Wasgamuwa to provide orange trees for villagers – a sustainable source of income and a crop that elephants do not raid or trample.