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The Udawalawe Elephant Research Project (UWERP), is a unique long-term study of wild Asian elephants living in and around Udawalawe National Park, in Sri Lanka. UWERP is focused on understanding the behavioral ecology and socio-demographic dynamics of an elephant population over time. It also studies human-elephant interactions in order to develop community-based conservation outside protected areas. Programs are sponsored jointly by The Elephant Forest & Environment Conservation Trust (EFECT, Sri Lanka) and Trunks & Leaves (USA).
We believe: Goodwill + Science + Communication = Sustainability |
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Every elephant is unique.
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Individuals are the basis of the Udawalawe Elephant Research Project, a study that grew out of a pilot initiated in 2005. The purpose of the study was to follow the behavior and demography of wild Asian elephants at Udawalawe National Park, in Sri Lanka. By identifying individuals using photographs of their distinctive ears, a technique also used with African elephants, UWERP has been able to catalogue over 400 animals that use the protected area. This allowed us to estimate the population that passes through the area, and demonstrate that Asian elephant social structure, communication and behavior can be quite distinct from that of African savannah elephants. The ongoing study documents reproductive rates and other demographic events in the known population, including impacts from human activities such as injuries and deaths.
Starting in 2017, the study also extends outside the National Park. Using camera traps, we can observe how elephants (and everything else) are behaving outside the protected area. The aim of this is to better understand which elephants use which areas and sharing space with people in the primarily agricultural landscape. Find stories from the field, research publications and popular media on the blog Maximus. |
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Meet the team
U. Sameera Weerathunga
Project coordinator Management of all field-based activities, equipment resources, and community engagement.
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T. V. Kumara
Research supervisor Elephant identification, data collection, field station maintenance and volunteer supervision.
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Sriyantha Janaka
Field technician Data entry, vehicle maintenance and technical assistance.
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Current Projects
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The Secret Life of Elephants
Outside protected areas, elephants are extremely shy and wary of people. The comings and goings of elephants (and everything else) are captured through camera traps to gain a glimpse of what elephants do when they think we're not looking. The goal of this research is to understand how elephants and people are sharing space on a very crowded landscape. It has already yielded some surprises: elephants seem to go to great pains to avoid people, even when they're walking identical paths.
The clips below show just a few of the interesting events captured on camera. Learn more at the blog links below. |
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The Coexistence Project
Elephants and people have a complex relationship in Sri Lanka. The animal is a powerful cultural icon that is a source of national pride, and yet it is also a tremendous liability for those that are among the most socioeconomically disenfranchised. How do people perceive elephants in this context and can we reconcile the needs of our two species?
The focus of this work is on better understanding the human side of the story so that we can develop just and equitable long-term solutions that also work for people. |
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The communities we work in depend on subsistence agriculture and face substantial economic challenges. As a way of offsetting some of these hardships, we work to support the communities we work in through provision of resources for education and other self-identified needs, in partnership with Trunks & Leaves a 501(c)3 nonprofit. In 2022 we have focused on provising emergency relief to rural households impacted by Sri Lanka's economic crisis.
We are grateful for support from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Asian Elephant Conservation Fund, and individual sponsors. |
Past Research
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Bull Behavior & Demography
Using long term data to understand how male elephants use protected areas and their social dynamics.Learn more...
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Elephants & Bees
A collaboration with Lucy King of the Elephants & Bees Project to test how Asian elephants react to playbacks of honey bee sounds.
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Social Life
Uncovering the structure of elephant societies and what makes them tick.
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Communication
Deciphering the mysterious communication system of elephants, its similarities and differences with human languages.
Publications:
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