Wicked Problems, Novel Solutions: Nepalese Elephant Tourism and Conservation

Area of Science:

• Conservation Science
• Environmental Ethics
• Wildlife Management

Background:

• Endangered Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) face multifaceted challenges, including political disputes, land use conflicts, and human-wildlife interactions.
• Conservation issues surrounding these elephants are often characterized as 'wicked problems,' impacting both local and global conservation efforts.
• The practice of human 'ownership' of endangered elephants for tourism, religious purposes, or labor in range states like Nepal complicates conservation debates.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the complex ethical and practical dimensions of Asian elephant conservation.
• To analyze the impact of human-wildlife conflict and differing perspectives on elephant management.
• To identify the need for novel strategies to foster collaboration in conservation efforts.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative analysis of existing literature and case studies on Asian elephant conservation.
• Examination of socio-political and ethical debates surrounding elephant use in tourism and other human activities.
• Review of human-wildlife conflict resolution strategies in elephant range states.

Main Results:

• Conservation challenges are intensified by human 'ownership' practices and differing ethical viewpoints on animal use.
• External stakeholders adopting adversarial stances exacerbate conflicts, particularly when local communities accept elephant ownership.
• Shifting perspectives on the ethics of using animals in tourism present both challenges and opportunities for conservation.

Conclusions:

• Establishing common ground requires innovative approaches that acknowledge local contexts and diverse stakeholder interests.
• Effective conservation necessitates bridging divides between local communities, international interests, and the welfare of endangered Asian elephants.
• Addressing the 'wicked problem' of Asian elephant conservation demands a move beyond adversarial positions towards collaborative solutions.