Tanzania: Elephant Protection with Chili Peppers

Spicy Peppers Instead of Gunfire

On the edge of the Serengeti, in the stunning Ngorongoro Conservation Area, the Maasai live – a proud, semi-nomadic people who have relied on farming and livestock for generations. Yet their fields share the land with some of the largest animals on Earth: elephants.

What may seem like peaceful coexistence at first glance often becomes a serious threat for the Maasai. When elephants roam the fields in search of food, they can destroy a family’s entire harvest in just a few steps, putting livelihoods at risk. Out of desperation, some resort to killing the animals to protect themselves – a tragic conflict where everyone loses.

A Surprisingly Simple Solution: Chili Peppers!

The DERTOUR Foundation supports a project that achieves great results through peaceful means. Instead of violence, chili plants and chili paste are used: fences coated with the paste act as invisible barriers. Elephants’ highly sensitive trunks cannot tolerate the strong smell, so they avoid the fields. Instead, they follow designated corridors that safely guide them through the region, keeping people and wildlife out of conflict.

This project promotes both conservation and community cohesion: Maasai communities build and maintain the chili fences themselves and receive training in elephant protection. Elephants maintain their ancient migratory routes and find food in the wild without destroying crops. Nature benefits, and humans and wildlife can live side by side peacefully.

Impact at a Glance

Each year, 350 villagers are trained in building chili fences, and over 36 kilometers of new fences are installed.
Twelve specially trained elephant rangers now monitor the protected corridors and work closely with local communities.
Elephants have learned to use the corridors regularly, keeping farmers’ crops safe.

Impact at a Glance

Each year, 350 villagers are trained in building chili fences, and over 36 kilometers of new fences are installed.
Twelve specially trained elephant rangers now monitor the protected corridors and work closely with local communities.
Elephants have learned to use the corridors regularly, keeping farmers’ crops safe.

This project demonstrates the power of conservation when it considers both people and animals. It’s an inspiring example of peaceful coexistence that offers hope for the future – both in Tanzania and beyond.