In October 2017, four refugees were killed nearby.

More than 585,000 people live in the sprawling Kutupalong-Balukhali camp and in the surrounding forested areas, according to the United Nations’ migration agency.

Humanitarian needs and conservation efforts in the area have been at odds in recent months.



The refugee camp is in an important habitat for the endangered Asian elephant and is along a migration route for elephants traveling between Myanmar and Bangladesh, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Much of the vegetation has been cleared to make more space for refugee shelters, further complicating the situation.

“Behaviorally, elephants always follow their traditional routes and corridors for regular movement,” the conservation union said in a statement. “If they find any obstacles within it, they try to break it.”