Photography Exhibit Explores “Coexistence” between Humans and Elephants in Thailand
An exhibit of a Duke undergraduate student’s photography in the Keohane-Kenan Gallery in the West Duke Building depicts the fraught relationship between Thai pineapple farmers and the elephants who devour their crops.
As a Chelsea Decaminada Memorial Fellow — a program that offers DukeEngage alumni the opportunity to pursue an independent project abroad — Dhruv Rungta embarked on this photojournalism project in 2024 with the help of his mentors at the Duke Center for Documentary Studies, Susie Post-Rust and Chris Sims.
Elephants can easily destroy a year’s worth of crops by eating them and stomping on the young plants.
Titled “Coexistence,” Rungta’s photography depicts the people of Ruam Thai, a small village in Southern Thailand whose economy is heavily dependent on pineapple farming. The photographs also depict the elephants, who are lured out of the neighboring Kuiburi national park by the sweet smell of the pineapple. Elephants can easily destroy a year’s worth of crops by eating them and stomping on the young plants.
In order to protect their crops, villagers keep watch during the night. With the help of park rangers, they drive the elephants away with firecrackers and guns, pursuing them on motorbikes. These confrontations create dangerous situations for humans and elephants both.
Along with documenting this conflict, Rungta’s photographs also show how villagers are seeking to mediate it.
But along with documenting this conflict, Rungta’s photographs also show how villagers are seeking to mediate it — either by planting different crops that don’t attract elephants, like lemongrass and chili peppers, or promoting ecotourism to the area, which diversifies income streams.
Exploring the relationship between humans and the environment — along with solutions for improving it — is a key driver of Rungta’s studies in Ecology, Economics, and Sustainable Development, a major he created through Program II. A recent Duke Today profile explores how Rungta’s path was shaped by his participation in DukeEngage Costa Rica and his Decaminada Fellowship.
Visitors are welcome to stop by the West Duke Building during business hours and see the exhibit, which runs until the end of the calendar year. Rungta has also recently published his photographs and an accompanying essay in Conservation Mag, an online publication dedicated to raising awareness of wildlife and nature.
This article originally appeared on the Kenan Institute for Ethics site.
Always documenting, Dhruv Rungta (right) and his mentors Susie Post-Rust (left) and Chris Sims (center) make a selfie in front of his exhibit in the Keohane-Kenan Gallery. Photo: Carol Bales
Dhruv Rungta poses in front of his photo exhibit, “Coexistence.” Photo: Susie Post-Rust
Dhruv Rungta sits with mentors Chris Sims and Susie Post-Rust, both of whom taught him and supervised independent studies that shaped this exhibition. Photo: Carol Bales
Support meaningful change through the documentary arts! Make a Gift Today