Farming Alongside Elephants in the Okavango Panhandle

Ecoexist Trust works across roughly 8,000 km² of the eastern Okavango Panhandle, where an estimated 16,000 people share the land with a similarly sized elephant population. The Trust trains farmers in non-lethal deterrents like chili fences and beehive barriers, certifies 'Elephant Aware' farmers who protect crops without conflict, and links them to premium buyers such as a local craft brewery and a gluten-free flour mill. Since founding in 2013 it has paired this grassroots farmer support with elephant-movement research to help address the roughly 25 elephants and one person killed in conflict here each year.