The human-elephant conflict in Sri Lanka is at its worst. This conflict claims the lives of approximately 70 humans and 300 elephants with around 3000 homes attacked each year. The existing measures taken to prevent humans and elephants coming into contact have been ineffective. This has led to people using guns, poison, electrocution, and other harmful methods such as a ‘hakka patas’, which are tiny, round explosives to scare away elephants that result in the tragic death of the animal. Our challenge therefore was to find a solution that would keep both humans and elephants separate and keep them safe.

As a ritual the villagers pray everyday in the early morning and in the evening hoping for a peaceful existence. Coincidently these were the times elephants break into villages. It’s also scientifically proven that elephants are mammals with a highly developed sense of smell. When the villagers pray they always light incense sticks as a custom. We thought these incense sticks could do more. They could offer a solution, and save lives. Thus the Aura Incense Barricade idea came to be, facilitated by the Aura ‘Aliya’ incense stick (‘Aliya’ means Elephant). This idea transformed the ordinary incense stick into a powerful elephant repellent by creating an invisible barricade between humans and elephants.

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