Whether deterrence will work or not depends greatly on two factors: the level and the certainty of punishment.

Jennifer Halstead spent the last month volunteering as a research assistant to the “human and elephant co-existant” project, here’s what she had to say about her first experiences in Botswana and with EWB

This project will contribute a gendered view to discussions of the local impacts of community conservation, which have all but been ignored to this point. In addition to being important for local women and their livelihoods, these considerations are also crucial as transfrontier conservation initiatives such as the KAZA TFCA

He said if we could secure large tracts of habitat for elephants and promote the ideal that communities could mutually benefit living with wildlife, then we would be securing a healthy environment for all: elephants, wildlife and people.

Through the tall grasses we could barely make out the massive bodies of elephants up ahead. We tried to scan their backs to take note of the satellite unit on Mary, but we could not identify her. A large female with a calf detected us, “strangers”, in the brush. She perked her head and ears up as she moved forward to investigate.

there is concern when elephants are so close to farms and villages. Human-elephant conflict incidences are on the rise, especially this time of year when crops are ready to be harvested. So for the last couple of months, we have been sitting on pins and needles

We, meaning all of us that inhabit the earth, are here living, sharing this planet, with all its perfect beauty, imperfections, imbalances and disasters, whether they be man-made or nature’s fury. The elephants knew this.

With a shake of her massive head, she quickly moved around the vehicle, leading another 30 elephants behind her. Dust filled our nostrils, ears and eyes, but we kept them wide-open, anxiously looking through the haze for more. We realized we weren’t on the edge of the corridor, we were right in the middle of it!

Yes! Pink elephants do exist! If you haven’t read yet… the latest news that has hit the press and has roused interest around the World, is the highly unusual sighting of an adorable, little pink elephant in the Okavango Delta, here in Botswana!