The world is a noisy place right now. Headlines scream of escalating conflicts, economic uncertainty casts a long shadow, and the 24-hour news cycle bombards us with a relentless stream of crises. But amidst the chaos and clamor, let's not forget the silent giants who still desperately need our support: elephants. 

Human-elephant conflict (HEC) is a pressing issue that threatens the survival of elephants and disrupts the livelihoods of communities living near them. It is a complex problem with no easy solutions, but it is one that we must address if we want to ensure the future of these magnificent animals.

Like at the beginning of every new year, unless you are Nostradamus, what lies ahead is unknown. 2021 will undoubtedly be filled with unknowns. But here at The Elephant Project, we believe that this New Year brings with it hope that has not been seen since World Wars consumed our planet – hope that the destruction and devastation will end, and that renewal and rebuilding will follow. Hope that the worst is behind us.

All is fair in love and war. Sometimes a bit of sensationalism is necessary to strengthen support of a message as significant as this. Who better than a band of robust young women in combat fatigues, sporting firearms to reel in an audience? Except this is not another Hollywood tale of make believe. The Akashinga group, which translate to ‘The Brave Ones’ is comprised of sixteen women who have come together to stop poachers by force.

An elephant’s worth is like everything in life – it is worth more to some than others. So how do you value an elephant? Do you see elephants as intrinsically valuable, intelligent and majestic in their own right? Do you base an elephant’s value on how much someone is willing to pay for one? How much someone is willing to pay to see one? To kill one?

The stories from Myanmar are endless and the voices never cease. But if you multiply that by all those in other countries who have a personal narrative to tell about elephants – whether from seeing them in a timber camp, in the wild in Africa or Asia, on the streets in Bangkok, in tourist camps or know of their plight through their government or private sector experience or from learning of them from the news, documentaries or social media – the number of stories is simply incalculable. Every story, and every experience is a critical piece in solving the puzzle to finally ending the struggle facing these animals - but only if those stories become voices.

Once governments in elephant range countries, like Nigeria, embrace the benefits of establishing a humane economy – which is simply an economy that thrives on saving and protecting wildlife and not destroying it - people will see the value of saving elephants and the senseless killing will be greatly diminished.  The results of building a humane economy will include growth in jobs, eco-tourism, tax revenue, international recognition and support, and greater safety and security within their borders and the continent as a whole. Not only is saving elephants a moral imperative, the facts are clear that saving an elephant has a greater positive fiscal impact to a country than allowing for their senseless killing.