TRUNKS & LEAVES
Dr. Shermin de Silva
ATC 046 – Dr. Shermin de Silva – TRUNKS & LEAVES – A research driven organisation, dedicated to the conservation of wild Asian elephants and their habitats
Introduction – Dr. Shermin de Silva – CEO/Founder TRUNKS & LEAVES – A Peaceful Coexistence of People and Elephants
02:55 Background – a non-profit, based in the USA
06:23 Article “This Campaign is Telling People how to Behave around Elephants”
The focus of the organisation: conservation of wild Asian elephants and their habitats – a research driven organisation
16:43 the Dahaiyagala corridor, north of Udawalawe National Park, Sri Lanka. Land-grabbing, politicians and why the corridor is so important for the elephants
in Blog
in Daily Mirror
How does research help?
23:09 Impacts of deforestation on elephants and research/homework as a tourist
25:21 Politicians, government and local communities
29:30 The best advocate for wildlife is a reformed poacher
31:07 Removing habitats impact on elephant population in the long term, data and research
Where can people find and support TRUNKS & LEAVES and Endnote
ARTICLES DISCUSSED
Elephant cruelty is a worrying tourism trend. A campaign wants to change the narrative around wildlife tourism, particularly elephant viewing.
Humans like to ride on them, or use them in festivals… even bathing them is a romanticised notion present in several millions of tourists who visit Asia and Africa every year, thinking they are indulging in a cultural experience when in reality, these trends hide a far darker industry.
Dahaiyagala sanctuary is a little-known, nondescript little strip of forest north of Udawalawe National Park, one of the two official “corridors” that supposedly links the park to the outside world.
The Dahaiyagala Sanctuary is a critical wildlife corridor allowing elephants and other animals to move to and from Udawalawe National Park.
Politicians are trying to de-gazette this protected area in a blatant land-grab attempt. Precious forest land has already been cleared.
“There are more than 1,000 elephants circulating around Uda Walawe and they need every bit of forestthey can have,” said Dr. Shermin De Silva, Director of the Udawalawe Elephant Research Project. She is also the President and Founder of Trunks & Leaves Inc., – a non-profit organization focused on the conservation of Asian elephants and their habitats
