Can You Tell?

Q. What crop is growing on this plantation in a region where some of Thailand’s largest populations of Asian elephants roam?

© Thomas Cristofoletti/Ruom for WWF

Pineapples!

It takes almost two years to grow a pineapple before it’s ripe and ready for harvest. So you could imagine the frustration and heartbreak of seeing the fruits of a farmer’s patience and dedication destroyed in a matter of minutes. This has been the harsh reality for those living around Kui Buri National Park, where some of Thailand’s largest populations of Asian elephants roam.

For years, these farmers have toiled to make a living from their crops, only to witness it all crumble under the footsteps of the wild giants. But the elephants are not to blame; with their usual foraging spots now converted into farmland, there is little left for them to eat—except the bountiful fields of tempting, easily accessible juicy fruits, all lined up like a continental breakfast buffet.

Learn about a farmer who turned human-elephant conflict into an economic opportunity, the economic benefits that conservation can bring to communities, and the vital role communities play in conservation.