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Research & Initiatives

Our unforgettable on-the-ground and from-the-couch experiences

serve EPIC's beating heart: groundbreaking research,

carried out by experts and people like you.

Research for Real Impact.

Data-driven and qualitative research taking count of all stakeholders.

The Elephant Perspective

We collect data on various aspects, including demography and population dynamics, diurnal activity patterns, social interactions and crop-raiding elephants to understand the ecology and behaviour of Asian elephants.

The Human Perspective

We use qualitative research, such as questionnaire surveys, to understand the human perspective on Human Wildlife Conflict.

We harness research to understand both elephants and the people who share their landscapes. Using this knowledge, we develop innovative solutions to reduce human-elephant conflict. Our mission brings together communities, authorities, businesses, professionals, and academics to create lasting impact—together.

The People-Elephant Bridge

Community-Led Conservation

Real conservation starts with the people who live alongside elephants. We empower local communities through training, awareness, and hands-on involvement in data collection, while supporting sustainable income through eco-tourism. The result? Stronger livelihoods, safer communities, and a future where people and elephants thrive together.

Elefriends

Elefriends” is one of EPIC’s flagship community-led programs, dedicated to training young local conservationists in human-elephant conflict data collection and guiding wildlife-watching tours. This initiative empowers local youth, builds conservation skills, and creates meaningful opportunities within their own communities.

The People-Pachyderm Paddy

The PPP project revitalises the traditional cultivation practices of local farmers—time-tested methods that once helped reduce crop damage from wildlife and ease human-elephant conflict. Farmers in the project cultivate only during the main seasons and allow wildlife to use their fields during the fallow period. During this time, they generate income through eco-tourism and wildlife-watching experiences, creating a sustainable balance between farming, livelihoods, and conservation.

Crops That Care—Farmers and Elephants.

We purchase locally grown crops from HEC-affected communities and brand them for premium markets, ensuring farmers receive fair prices that strengthen their livelihoods. By choosing these products, customers directly support local families and contribute to elephant conservation—turning everyday purchases into meaningful impact.

EPIC Branding

Focus on Elefriends

Whether you've dreamed of going on safari or making a difference...this is where your dream begins.

Discover elephants on your terms

Education and Volunteering

A major challenge in mitigating human-elephant conflict is the limited availability of long-term data on elephant movements, behavior, feeding patterns, and the human dimensions of conflict. This gap often exists due to limited facilities and support for international researchers in Sri Lanka. To address this, we offer supervised, collaborative opportunities for projects ranging from undergraduate to PhD level, as well as internships and volunteering to help develop future careers in conservation. These programs provide hands-on experience in elephant conservation while fostering global participation and collaboration

University Projects

Study elephants with us! Whether it’s for your undergraduate, master’s, or PhD project, we’re here to support your research.

Volunteer

Turn your passion into action—volunteer with us today! We offer both short-term and long-term opportunities. Share your interests with us, and together we’ll make it happen.

Looking for an internship, teaching opportunities in the community, or hands-on experience in running a non-profit? We’re here to support you and help shape your future career.

Learn, Teach & Build A Career

Join Us in Making

A Difference

Directly support efforts to create harmony between people and elephants, aid our initiatives, and delivering life-changing research to the world—and yourself.