Researcher name: Harry Fonseca Williams

Period: March 2021 – August 2022

This research is linked to The Elephant Queen Outreach Programme

Funder: Save The Elephants / Apple

Outline of research: Impact Assessment of a Mobile Cinema Screening The Elephant Queen to communities struggling with Human-Elephant Conflict across Kenya

Objectives:

1. Identify changes to emotions towards elephants following viewing The Elephant Queen
2. Identify whether impacts diffuse beyond those who view The Elephant Queen
3. Identify HEC hotspots across Kenya in order to prioritise viewing locations
4. Analyse how prevalence of Human-Elephant Conflict affects uptake of empathetic emotions towards elephants following viewing of The Elephant Queen
5. Compare and contrast how changes in viewers differs between those suffering from agricultural Human-Elephant Conflict and those suffering from pastoral Human-Elephant Conflict
6. Increase awareness of connectivity and willingness for locals to identify permanent corridors that can be protected for use by wildlife within their communities

Summary of planned activities: 

Sep – Nov 2021 – Designing study, finalising logistics, carrying out workshop with all partner organisations from across Kenya

Nov – Dec 2021 – Study communities viewing The Elephant Queen in the Tsavo Ecosystem

Dec – Feb 2022 – Study communities viewing The Elephant Queen in the Amboseli Ecosystem

Feb – April 2022 – Conduct follow-up study in the Tsavo/Amboseli Ecosystems

May – July 2022 - Study communities viewing The Elephant Queen in the Samburu Ecosystem

Aug – Sep 2022 - Conduct follow-up study in the Samburu Ecosystem

(Planned) Project outputs:

1. Identification of HEC hotspots Kenya wide and communities most likely to be struggling from conflict
2. Ascertain ways in which future campaigns could improve upon this outreach activity and study
3. Provide a solid foundation from which to apply for further funding to take TEQ around areas not covered by this route
4. Gain a better understanding of the effect of natural history film viewing on audiences’ attitude towards a given topic and how this may change over time
5. Establish the mechanism by which changes to knowledge and attitudes resulting from natural history viewing diffuses beyond viewers
6. Increase awareness of connectivity and willingness for locals to identify permanent corridors that can be protected for use by wildlife within their communities

See Harry's profile page here