Forest fragmentation and Asian elephants:
Conservation and conflict in the Valparai plateau, Anamalai hills, India
An interim report( September 2003)
Goals and General Statement
February 10, 2002
The Elephant Sanctuary contributes to special project in Southern India
"Not often is it possible to undertake an effort that contributes simultaneously to the welfare of people as well as wildlife. As one such unique effort, the rehabilitation program in Bhadra is richly deserving of support."
In response to the recommendation of A. Christy Williams, the Elephant Sanctuary is contributing financially to a project detailed in a report, "Helping People Help Wildlife". (PDF format).
Goals and General Statement
Under the expert direction of Christy Williams, The Elephant Sanctuary has begun a far-reaching program for the development and enhancement of habitat preserves and sanctuaries for Asian elephants (all species) within their native lands. We appreciate the work of Ron Chandler, past program director and co-developer of the Asian Elephant Habitat Program.
The first phase of this program will, among other objectives, ascertain the following:
- what lands are currently being used as habitat preserves and sanctuaries for the Asian elephant;
- the status of these lands, ie., the degree of true safe haven these lands actually provide for the elephant;
- who - individuals and organizations - is responsible for the management and protection of the elephants in these lands;
- what are their funding sources, and the security and longevity of funding;
- detailed information regarding current program objectives (near and long term), and
- are these individuals and organizations interested in assistance and engaging in cooperative Asian elephant habitat preservation development programs.
The Sanctuary's premise is that there is no better place for the Asian elephant then in its native ranges and that these ranges must be protected and enhanced. We intend to find individuals and organizations that are willing to share in the Sanctuary's comitment to providing safe native range and expanding elephant sanctuaries. Research to locate elephant preservesand sanctuaries and to identify individuals and entities responsible for them has already begun. Look for updates on this program on the website.
For more information please contact:
Carol Buckley
The Elephant Sanctuary
P. O. Box 393
Hohenwald, TN 38462
Fax: (931) 796-4810
or Email Carol
About A. Christy Williams:
A. Christy Williams has a B.S. in Physics and an M.S. in Ecology and is currently writing his Ph.D. dissertation on Elephants and their habitats in Rajaji-Corbett National Parks in northwest India. In 1994-95, Christy Williams carried out a Status survey of elephants and their habitats along with an assessment of the elephant-human conflict in northeast India for the Government of India. Since 1996 he has been following four elephant family groups and four adult males using radio telemetry to study elephant behavior and ecology. In addition, he has been pioneering techniques using identified elephants to estimate population parameters and population size in Rajaji-Corbett National Parks.
Christy is our local connection in India as we begin the first phase of this project.
Back to beginning of Asia Habitat Program
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