MCM Student Nazeeya Chowdhury Leads Human-Elephant Conflict Workshop in Bangladesh

As she dug into the research, Chowdhury was surprised by the differences in the behavior of the Asian elephants in Bangladesh and those in Thailand. She mapped out areas of human-elephant conflict and contacted extended family in Bangladesh to help with data collection. She connected with a distant cousin who heads the Chunati Wildlife Sanctuary, a protected area for Asian elephants. She expressed to Chowdhury the gravity of the situation and how little attention human-elephant conflicts receive.

While visiting Bangladesh last winter, Chowdhury spent time at the Chunati Wildlife Sanctuary and assisted a large animal veterinarian working with wildlife. She heard stories of tragedy for both humans and elephants. While touring an export factory that doubles as a wildlife reservoir, she learned that elephants that enter the property by law cannot be removed, so they often block roads, take food, and sometimes injure workers. Locals expressed frustration with the government for not providing assistance or compensation when elephants attack people or damage property.

Chowdhury researched best practices for dealing with elephants, including how to interpret and respond to their behavior, and studied how countries with significant elephant populations, such as Thailand, Nepal, India, and several African nations, manage these conflicts.

When an elephant approaches, Chowdhury explains that people tend to scream and run, which can cause the elephant to become aggressive and heighten the danger. People should instead stay calm and quietly find a place to hide. "If an elephant flares out its ears with its tail held up, it's scared, and it will charge or at least mock charge. If an elephant is swaying back and forth with its trunk spreading dust, making noise, it's probably angry and going to charge," she says.

In terms of preventive measures, Chowdhury identified several effective strategies, including avoiding areas where an elephant had recently died. If an elephant dies in a village, for example, the herd is likely to show up soon to mourn their loss. People should be aware of the signs that a male elephant is in musth, when its hormones are high, and it is more likely to become quick to anger. Elephants dislike the smell of chili peppers, making them an excellent deterrent for keeping them away from crops or property.

For her research to have an impact on the ground, Chowdhury applied for the TECA grant and was awarded nearly $5,000. Part of the funding she dedicated to hiring sanctuary volunteers to survey local villagers to understand better their perspectives and how they handle elephant encounters.

Chowdhury says of her findings, "The way they care about nature over there is incredibly different from how people over here care about nature. They rely on natural resources much more than we do. It makes sense that rather than understanding elephants as an important part of the environment, they're seen more as a competitor in the environment. Through the survey, I learned that people don't want the elephants to die; they are scared and worried for their own lives and families. So many have lost family members to elephants."

Based on the survey and her research, Chowdhury organized the Human-Elephant Conflict Workshop. Local farmers, villagers, workers, and government officials attended the conference's first day. She shared her research and distributed a pamphlet she had written in both English and Bangla, covering topics such as interpreting and reacting to elephant behaviors, preparing for elephant encounters, and providing step-by-step instructions on building a chili pepper bio-fence. Citizens injured by elephants had the opportunity to speak with government officials about financial support for damages and medical costs. Her parents accompanied her on the trip to help interpret.

The second day of the workshop, she designed for the Chunati Elephant Response Team, a volunteer group called in to handle elephant encounters. While they knew more about elephant behavior, they were unfamiliar with phenomena like musth, for example, and tactics such as the chili pepper ropes. Her TECA funding paid for transportation to the event for the villagers and the response team volunteers.

"The emergency response team members are risking their lives to help protect people from elephants," she says of the group, which does not receive any funding or supplies. "They have no source of transportation to get to elephants, no uniforms, flashlights, whistles, or any sort of defense."

Chowdhury successfully raised awareness of human-elephant conflicts locally, nationally, and internationally. The workshop garnered international attention with coverage in The Business Standard and NewAge news online.

"Nazeeya worked really hard to pull her project together, and we couldn't be prouder of what she was able to accomplish. This is a great example of MCM students making a real difference," says Dr. Chris Whitter, director of the MCM program and associate teaching professor in the Department of Infectious Disease and Global Health at Cummings School.

Chowdhury appreciates the guidance and encouragement from her MCM professors, staff, and cohort.

“The MCM program provided me with the opportunity and support to undertake a project of this scale, which I previously thought was beyond my capabilities,” says Chowdhury, who is currently working as an animal care technician and applying to veterinary school. “The biggest thing I got from the MCM program was seeing how many careers there are out there to work with animals.”