Mission and Vision
Our mission is to raise awareness about Asian elephants and their habitats, locally and globally, compiling resources and tools for education, research and conservation.
Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) are large-brained, long-lived animals with mysterious social lives that we are only just beginning to understand. They are also keystone species that modify and 'engineer' their landscapes in ways that affect countless animal and plant communities. Asian elephants and humans have lived side-by-side for thousands of years. Yet today they are classified as Endangered under the IUCN Red List of threatened species. We share a common fate with the wildlife on our planet and the future depends on what we do now. We envision a world in which elephants and people can peacefully flourish side-by-side on a rich, biodiverse landscape that meets all our needs.
Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) are large-brained, long-lived animals with mysterious social lives that we are only just beginning to understand. They are also keystone species that modify and 'engineer' their landscapes in ways that affect countless animal and plant communities. Asian elephants and humans have lived side-by-side for thousands of years. Yet today they are classified as Endangered under the IUCN Red List of threatened species. We share a common fate with the wildlife on our planet and the future depends on what we do now. We envision a world in which elephants and people can peacefully flourish side-by-side on a rich, biodiverse landscape that meets all our needs.
Board Members
Shermin de Silva
President & Founder Shermin is a professor in the Ecology Behavior and Evolution at the University of California, San Diego, home of the HumaNature Lab. She obtained her Ph.D from the University of Pennsylvania and directs the Udawalawe Elephant Research Project in Sri Lanka, which she initiated in 2005. She is a member of the Asian Elephant Specialist Group of the IUCN Species Survival Commission. Homepage > |
Sergey Kryazhimskiy
Treasurer Sergey is a professor in Ecology, Behavior and Evolution at the University of California at San Diego. He received his Ph.D from Princeton University in 2008 and did postdoctoral research in theoretical biology and evolutionary dynamics at the University of Pennsylvania and Harvard University. Sergey is interested in making science open and relevant to the public. |
Esther A. Clarke
Clerk Esther completed her Ph.D in 2010 at the University of St. Andrews (UK). She studied the vocalizations and behavior of wild white-handed gibbons in one of Thailand's National Parks. Esther became interested in elephants after a run in with a rather large one in the forests of Thailand. As a research fellow at Durham University, UK, Dr. Clarke has broad interests in biodiversity conservation and education. |
Joe Hedal
Board Member Joe retired in 2020 as Deputy Director of the Harvard Transactional Law Clinics. He received his JD from Boston University School of Law and a BA in Geology from Middlebury College. He has extensive experience as a transactional lawyer in a variety of roles, including working with nonprofits. Joe has an interest in supporting sustainable conservation that bridges the relationship between people and the environment. He has previously served as a field volunteer in Borneo for the Orangutan Foundation International and is currently a board member of Tech Goes Home, a digital equity nonprofit based in Boston, Massachusetts. Prior to attending law school, Joe’s geology field work focused on mineral resource assessments of wilderness areas in the western United States. |
Philip Nyhus
Board Member Philip received his M.S and Ph.D. from the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. He is a Professor of Environmental Studies at Colby College, Maine, USA. His interdisciplinary research bridges the natural and social sciences to address human interactions with the environment. He is particularly interested in large mammal conservation, large landscape conservation, and human-wildlife conflict. He is a member of the Cat Specialist and Conservation Planning Specialist Groups of the IUCN Species Survival Commission and was founding Series Editor of Biodiversity of the World: Conservation from Genes to Landscapes. |
COULD THIS BE YOU?We are seeking new Board Members!
If you are passionate about Asian elephant conservation and would like help Trunks & Leaves develop further to achieve its vision, we would like to hear from you! Learn more » |
Other Team Members
Lizzie Webber
Chief Operating Officer Lizzie received her PhD from the University of Stirling, Scotland, having studied the development of captive and wild elephant calves, working alongside UWERP. She studied Wild Animal Biology for her Masters at the Royal Vet College, London, and worked in Cambodia with Fauna & Flora International for her dissertation on trends in elephant crop raiding. Lizzie is a Fellow of the Linnean Society of London and of the Zoological Society of London. |
Salik Ansar
Sri Lanka Project Consultant Salik is a Sri Lankan native with globe-trotting experience using his MBA training to manage a diverse portfolio of projects emphasizing social good and community development. |
Claire Ang
Virtual Assistant Claire assists in communications and administrative activities of Trunks and Leaves. Though trained as an engineer, she has also launched and managed her own café. Originally from the Philippines, she loves the outdoors and enjoys climbing mountains. |
Lianne Zonnebeld
Volunteer Lianne has completed her master’s degree in wildlife conservation and species recovery and is passionate about understanding and safeguarding wildlife. In a world where humans and wildlife share a fate, she believes in taking action now for a sustainable future. Lianne currently resides in Sri Lanka and is part of a research team studying the impact of human activity on primate behaviour. She is volunteering as our social media content creator. |
Field Staff
Sameera Weerathunga
Policy Advocacy and Community Action (UWERP) Sameera manages all field-based activities, maintains the camera trap network and leads the community-focused work of the Coexistence Project. |
T. V. Kumara
Research Supervisor (UWERP) Kumara is an elephant researcher extraordinaire, in charge of field data collection and and all aspects of data management for the Udawalawe Elephant Research Project. |
Sriyantha Janaka
Field Technician (UWERP) Janaka participates in all aspects of data collection as well as maintenance of the field station, vehicles and other equipment. |
Sajani Gamage
Field Technician (UWERP) With degree in Coastal and Marine Management, Sajani has crossed over to the terrestrial realm. She is ever ready to lend a hand in all aspects of fieldwork. |
Partners
Partners are institutions and organizations with which we have an ongoing relationship.
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Current & Past Collaborators
Our research collaborations have included individuals from these institutions and organizations.
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