The primary objective of A Future with Elephants (AFWE) is to save the Asian Elephant from extinction in this century.

It is estimated that the total population has now dropped to well below 30,000.

There are two main reasons for the decline in their population:

1) Habitat destruction by the ever-increasing human populations throughout South East Asia, and

2) Increasing human-elephant conflict as a result of crop raiding.  All forms of agriculture are incompatible with the presence of elephants.

A warming globe may also pose an even greater threat in the near future. If the increased melting of the Himalayan glaciers ultimately reduces the flow of the Indus, Ganges, Brahmaptura, Mekong, Salween, Yangtze, and Yellow Rivers, on which the elephants are ultimately dependent for their livelihood.

Solutions to these problems are not readily achievable, and they must include:

• Preserving and restoring the elephant’s natural habitat of forests, marshes, lakes and rivers.
• Developing deterrents to keep elephants from crop raiding.
• Improving the reproductive success of all captive elephants, so that we no longer have to keep depleting the wild population.
• Documenting the existing knowledge gathered over the centuries by the traditional elephant handlers.
• Understanding the language of wild elephants and using as environmental enrichment for captive elephants.
• Educating the general public, and particularly young people, about the plight of the Asian elephant.
• Supporting local communities who are dependent upon elephants.

AFWE aims to tackle these complex issues with a range new lateral approaches that offer new possibilities to positively impact upon the survival on this highly intelligent, social and iconic species.

AFWE aids in the design of innovative projects and financially compensates work on the ground in the elephant’s natural habitats in South East Asia.

These projects focus on reproduction, conservation, community support and the reduction of human/elephant conflict.