Beyond the Elephant-Centered Approach
Are we saving elephants, but losing the human culture and shared landscapes that have sustained them for millennia?
In the heart of Laos, a conservation caravan of 20 elephants journeyed for 45 days, culminating in a parade where mahouts dressed in royal costumes from a bygone era. This spectacle, one researcher noted, fossilized mahout knowledge into folklore, rather than placing it at the forefront of species conservation 2 . This well-intentioned event highlights a critical tension in modern conservation: are we saving elephants, but losing the human culture and shared landscapes that have sustained them for millennia?
For decades, the dominant approach to saving endangered species has often been monospecific—focusing on a single, charismatic animal. In the case of the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus), this has meant well-funded campaigns to protect the animal from the various human pressures pushing it toward extinction 1 .
With fewer than 50,000 individuals left in the wild, the urgency is undeniable 4 .
The traditional, elephantocentric model addresses critical threats like:
of elephants now found outside protected areas 4
International ban on ivory trade exists, but poaching continues for other parts 4
The conventional solution has often involved creating protected areas where elephants can live separate from people, a practice akin to "rewilding" 1 . However, this approach, while logically sound, can be simplistic. As one anthropologist studying conservation in Laos observed, it risks excluding humans—and the deep knowledge they hold—from the elephant's world, potentially impacting the entire ecosystem negatively 1 .
The Elephant Conservation Center (ECC) in Laos's Sayabouri province presents a fascinating case study. It positions itself as a leader in pachyderm conservation, featuring breeding programs, a veterinary clinic, and a museum 1 . Its long-term goal has been to create an artificial elephant herd for release into a protected national park, effectively removing them from village life 1 2 .
For the local Tai-Lue people, the elephant is not just an animal to be saved, but a full member of a specific family and an integral part of a socio-natural community 2 .
| Aspect | Traditional (Elephantocentric) Approach | Biocultural Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Focus | The elephant species in isolation | The network of relationships between elephants, humans, plants, and landscape |
| Human Role | Often seen as a threat to be removed | Essential partners with invaluable knowledge and a shared history |
| Ideal Elephant Habitat | Protected areas separate from human activity | A shared landscape including villages and adjacent forests |
| Key Knowledge Valued | Western conservation biology and veterinary science | Traditional and mahout knowledge, combined with modern science |
| Goal | To save the elephant from human influence | To sustain a future where humans and elephants can co-exist and thrive |
Table 1: Contrasting Conservation Philosophies
In response to the limitations of a purely elephantocentric model, a more integrative biocultural approach is gaining ground. This philosophy no longer gives primacy of knowledge to humans alone but instead focuses on the interspecific interactions and reciprocity between all living beings 1 .
In China's Yunnan province, the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) launched an Asian Elephant Early Warning and Monitoring Center providing real-time alerts to over 50,000 local residents .
The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) promotes low-tech, community-based crop-guarding methods that have repelled more than 90% of elephant raids in some areas 7 .
In Thailand's Kui Buri National Park, camera traps as early detection tools and response teams working with farmers have significantly reduced conflict while supporting alternative livelihoods 4 .
| Threat | Impact | Traditional Solution | Biocultural-Informed Solution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Habitat Loss & Fragmentation | Squeezes elephants into isolated pockets, blocking migratory routes | Create protected areas; law enforcement | Restore biological corridors 4 ; community-based land-use planning |
| Human-Elephant Conflict (HEC) | Crop/property damage, human & elephant casualties, retaliation killings | Relocate elephants; compensate farmers | Early warning systems ; community ranger patrols; alternative, elephant-unfriendly crops |
| Loss of Traditional Knowledge | Erosion of mahout skills and cultural practices that aided coexistence | Often unaddressed or replaced by standardized protocols | Formal research on mahout knowledge 2 ; integrating local practices into management |
| Poaching & Illegal Trade | Direct population decline, especially of tuskers | Anti-poaching patrols; strengthening laws | Social and behavior change campaigns to reduce consumer demand 4 |
Table 2: Threats to Asian Elephants and Evolving Conservation Solutions
What does research look like when it seeks to blend cultural and biological understanding? The following toolkit outlines key methods and materials used in this interdisciplinary field.
| Tool or Method | Primary Function in Biocultural Research |
|---|---|
| Ethnographic Interviews | To document the cosmo-ecological views of local populations, their historical relationships with elephants, and perceived behavioral cues. |
| Satellite Telemetry | To track wild elephant movements and identify how their routes intersect with human land use, informing conflict management 6 . |
| Participant Observation | To immerse in the daily life of mahouts and villagers, observing interspecific interactions and practices firsthand. |
| Endocrinology Lab Analysis | To non-invasively monitor stress and reproductive hormones in elephants, assessing welfare in different management settings 9 . |
| "One Health" Field Sampling | To collect biological samples from humans, elephants, and the environment to study disease transmission at the human-animal interface 9 . |
Primary Role: War elephants
Relationship Dynamic: Military partners, symbols of royal power 1
Primary Role: Timber elephants
Relationship Dynamic: Engine of the forest industry, economic resource 1
Primary Role: Tourism & conservation asset
Relationship Dynamic: Object of protection and source of tourist revenue 1
Estimated distribution of conservation funding and efforts across different approaches
The central question is no longer just "what would the world be without elephants?" but rather, "what would the world be if humans and elephants had to live separately?" 2 . The latter may not only be impossible in much of modern Asia but would also mean the loss of a rich, shared cultural heritage.
The future of Asian elephant conservation seems to lie in its ability to embrace complexity. It must move beyond a single-species focus to a systems-based approach that values community partnership, shared knowledge, and integrated landscapes.
This doesn't mean abandoning the goal of protecting a majestic, endangered species. It means recognizing that its greatest hope for survival is in the very landscapes it has co-created with humans for thousands of years. The success of this enlarged vision will depend on our willingness to see elephants not as icons to be placed on a pedestal, but as partners in a shared, living landscape.