Why Sri Lanka
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Sri Lanka is home to about a tenth of the estimated global total of 40,000
Asian elephants in the wild. Elephants are not being killed in Sri Lanka for
their tusks, as tuskers are rare; they are not being killed for meat, since no
one eats elephant meat; they are not being killed for their hides, since
there is no market for elephant hides in the leather industry. Instead,
elephants are being killed simply because they interfere with agriculture.
Since 1950, it is likely that more than 4,000 elephants have been
destroyed as a direct consequence of the conflict between man and
elephant.
The elephant is running out of space in Sri Lanka. Most of the protected
areas inhabited by elephants are small, less than 1000 sq. km in size
(900 sq. miles). Nevertheless, elephants, especially the bulls, may range
over hundreds of square kilometers in the course of a season. Their sheer
size and gargantuan appetite mean that elephants and people cannot live
together where agriculture is the dominant form of land use, unless the
damage they cause to farmers can be compensated. There are no easy
solutions for resolving the human-elephant conflict in Sri Lanka. Much will
depend on how rural people perceive the worth of the elephant. To stop
the wanton killing of elephants requires changing the perceptions of the
farmers who suffer constant depredations from the animals. Many are
now convinced that the only way elephants and human beings can exist
successfully in the same environment is through finding ways to use the
elephant as a sustainable economic resource.
Asian elephants in the wild. Elephants are not being killed in Sri Lanka for
their tusks, as tuskers are rare; they are not being killed for meat, since no
one eats elephant meat; they are not being killed for their hides, since
there is no market for elephant hides in the leather industry. Instead,
elephants are being killed simply because they interfere with agriculture.
Since 1950, it is likely that more than 4,000 elephants have been
destroyed as a direct consequence of the conflict between man and
elephant.
The elephant is running out of space in Sri Lanka. Most of the protected
areas inhabited by elephants are small, less than 1000 sq. km in size
(900 sq. miles). Nevertheless, elephants, especially the bulls, may range
over hundreds of square kilometers in the course of a season. Their sheer
size and gargantuan appetite mean that elephants and people cannot live
together where agriculture is the dominant form of land use, unless the
damage they cause to farmers can be compensated. There are no easy
solutions for resolving the human-elephant conflict in Sri Lanka. Much will
depend on how rural people perceive the worth of the elephant. To stop
the wanton killing of elephants requires changing the perceptions of the
farmers who suffer constant depredations from the animals. Many are
now convinced that the only way elephants and human beings can exist
successfully in the same environment is through finding ways to use the
elephant as a sustainable economic resource.
Elephant dung may be that resource. It is a commodity that is freely
available. On average, an adult elephant produces about 180-200 kg
(500 lbs) of it per day. Moreover, it provides a way of converting a liability
into an asset in conflict areas.
Until now, no one had any use for it. However, project Maximus, designed
to manufacture paper from it, may help change the perception of the
farmers of the economic value of the elephant in conflict areas.
Since an elephant’s diet is all vegetarian, the waste produced is basically
raw cellulose. Thoroughly cleaned and processed, the cellulose is
converted into a uniquely beautiful textured product, marketed as “Ellie
Pooh Paper”. This acid free, linen-like papyrus-type paper can be formed
into art and construction projects, notebooks, cards and assorted gift
items where the only limitation is ones imagination. These products have
proved extremely popular among many in the local population and among
foreign tourists.
Although this paper may not completely resolve the ongoing human-
elephant conflict in Sri Lanka, its use for the benefit of the farmers who
suffer from elephant depredations will certainly go some way in raising the
tolerance of the farmers towards the elephant. If the elephant is used as
an economic asset that contributes meaningfully to the welfare of the
people, then the people themselves will not want to see it disappear from
their area. In the final analysis, all of our conservation efforts will be futile if
we do not have the support of the local communities. “Ellie Pooh Paper”
can play an important role in the conservation of its provider.
available. On average, an adult elephant produces about 180-200 kg
(500 lbs) of it per day. Moreover, it provides a way of converting a liability
into an asset in conflict areas.
Until now, no one had any use for it. However, project Maximus, designed
to manufacture paper from it, may help change the perception of the
farmers of the economic value of the elephant in conflict areas.
Since an elephant’s diet is all vegetarian, the waste produced is basically
raw cellulose. Thoroughly cleaned and processed, the cellulose is
converted into a uniquely beautiful textured product, marketed as “Ellie
Pooh Paper”. This acid free, linen-like papyrus-type paper can be formed
into art and construction projects, notebooks, cards and assorted gift
items where the only limitation is ones imagination. These products have
proved extremely popular among many in the local population and among
foreign tourists.
Although this paper may not completely resolve the ongoing human-
elephant conflict in Sri Lanka, its use for the benefit of the farmers who
suffer from elephant depredations will certainly go some way in raising the
tolerance of the farmers towards the elephant. If the elephant is used as
an economic asset that contributes meaningfully to the welfare of the
people, then the people themselves will not want to see it disappear from
their area. In the final analysis, all of our conservation efforts will be futile if
we do not have the support of the local communities. “Ellie Pooh Paper”
can play an important role in the conservation of its provider.
| The Mr Ellie Pooh and Maximus Too Mission Statement The long term plans of Mr Ellie Pooh and Maximus are to introduce what has been coined Project Peace Paper. The idea is to help reduce the Human/Elephant conflict that currently rages in the rural village areas in Sri Lanka. Our Companies have plans to open paper re-cycling plants in rural areas, train villagers in paper making techniques, and sell our finished goods worldwide. This newly created industry can then directly contribute to the local economy. Our hopes are that such an initiative will self educate the villagers into living, working and respecting the elephant rather than struggling and fighting against them. |
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