DESIGN PROGRAMME Repellent Crop Experiment
The Establishment of Elephant Canteen
Repellent crop experiment is to find out what kind of crop will not consume by elephants and its economic value. The research found out that the experimental crops did well while the traditional crops suffered severe damage from elephant raids. Furthermore, the income from experimental annual crops was initially low. However, with the combination of perennial crops, it can provide higher income than traditional crops while also reducing the risk of elephant raids.
Elephant canteen is a way to lure elephants away from farmer’s fields by planting elephant food crops near elephant’s habitat.
Repellent Crop
Tradition Crops
Rice
Sugarcane
Sorghum
Annual Crops
Taro
(Colocasia esculenta)
Turmeric
(Cuscuma longa)
Perennial Crops
Chilli
Eggplant
(Capsicum sp.)
(Solanum sp.)
Teak
Tamarind
(Tectona grandis)
(Tamarindus indica)
Pomelo
(Citrus maxima)
Farmland area
HEC consequences
Total farmland: 171 ha Farmland per person: 0.13 ha
Human deaths & injuries: 32 deaths & 159 injuries Economic loss: $1 million damage in crops per year Elephant deaths: More than 40 Asian elephants die from electric shocks, eating poisonous
NHPA village
HEC incident
Population: 1346 Ethnic: Lao Loum Type of agriculture: Rice, corn, tea & citrus; Chicken & pig
Deforestation due to the expansion of rubber tree plantations and farmland, intensifies elephants raiding during food shortages (July to March). Farmers stop cultivating some of the farmland, due to the fear of elephants.
crops & falling into agricultural reservoirs,
Jujube
(Ziziphus mauritiana)
Tea plantation
Chicken farm
Rice field
Rubber Plantation
Corn farm
The presence of wild elephants has stopped many people from entering the forest for rubber
Before
Elephant Food Crops Survival rate: 20-80%
Survival rate: 86-93%
Survival rate: 85-90%
Mean: 50%
Mean: 89.5%
Mean: 87.5%
Expected income per 1000 m2
Expected income per 1000 m2
Expected income per 1000 m2
Rice: $ 35 Sugarcane: $ 217 Sorghum: $ 209
Taro: $ 174 Turmeric: $ 53 Chilli: $ 50 Eggplant: $ 44
Teak: $ 362 Tamarind: $ 226 Pomelo: $ 250 Jujube: $ 227
Expected income per 1000 m2
Expected income per 1000 m2
Expected income per 1000 m2
Rice: $ 17.5 Sugarcane: $ 108.5 Sorghum: $ 104.5
Taro: $ 155.5 Turmeric: $ 47.7 Chilli: $ 45 Eggplant: $ 39.6
Teak: $ 318.6 Tamarind: $ 198.8 Pomelo: $ 220 Jujube: $ 199.8
(included survival rate)
(included survival rate)
Maize
Sugarcan
Banana
Cassava
Monitoring system
Section A-A’
Elephant Canteen The elephant canteen is planted with banana trees to lure elephants away from villagers’ farmland. It reportedly reduces 50% of the HEC in this area.
(included survival rate)
Elephant Canteen (80ha)
After
Elephant Food Crops
Jujube Tree
Pomelo Tree
Turmeric
The efficacy of elephant food crops fades with time as elephants become picky and re-enter the village to eat crops like corn and sugarcane again.
The project is heavily dependent on the government since the government decides and funds all the development. The elephant canteen cannot be continued if the government stops funding.
There is 20 staff working in monitoring and early warning service. They monitor elephant movement through drones and infrared cameras. They inform villagers to take precautions when elephants get close to the village.
Repellent Crop
Taro
Elephant behaviour
The government rent farmland and hire farmers to work in the elephant canteen Rent: $32/mu Salary: $17/day (~$470/month) Insurance (personal death): $95 000 Insurance (crops): As market price
Tamarind Tree
Beacon Tower Using smoke & fire to alarm villagers when elephant enter cross the fence
Incentive to farmer
Chilli
Beehive Fence
Banana
Corn
