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New Indian Express
3 days ago
- General
- New Indian Express
IISc, Karnataka forest department sign MoU to mitigate man-elephant conflict
BENGALURU: Karnataka forest department on July 15 signed a MoU to undertake landscape-level conservation of Asian elephants to mitigate man-elephant conflict in Karnataka, especially in Mysore Elephant Reserve and the surrounding areas. It is the largest elephant reserve in the country. The aim of the five-year project titled -- Landscape-Level Management of the Asian Elephant in the Mysore Elephant Reserve is to create a scientific foundation to mitigate man-elephant conflict and ensure long-term conservation of Asian elephants across Karnataka's ecologically sensitive and conflict-prone regions. Speaking at the sidelines of the signing of the MoU, forest, environment and ecology department minister Eshwar B Khandre said that multiple methods are being adopted, including barricades and fencing to mitigate conflicts. It has also increased due to increased urbanisation in forest fringes and around 150 elephants have made areas outside forests in Kodagu and Hassan their homes. Thus, as a part of the five-year study, IISc and elephant experts will assess use of various methods including technological interventions that can help mitigate conflict, he said. As per forest department data, Karnataka houses 6,395 wild elephants and is one of the most critical elephant ranges in Asia. The Mysore Elephant Reserve and the surrounding coffee-growing districts are increasingly witnessing conflict, resulting in loss of human lives, crop damage and retaliatory action against elephants. Fragmentation of habitats, changing land-use patterns, and increased proximity between humans and elephants have contributed to the crisis. The project will address six core objectives: Strengthening Habitat Connectivity by mapping elephant corridors, evaluating barriers and elephant movement using satellite telemetry, camera traps and GIS models Monitoring Demographic and Physiological Health by assessing population dynamics, body condition and stress indicators through non-invasive sampling Understanding Behaviour and Conflict Propensity by studying crop-raiding patterns, social learning and identifying high-conflict individuals through social network analysis Elephant Communication and Acoustic Monitoring by Cataloguing elephant vocalisations, particularly in conflict contexts, to develop sound-based deterrents and warning systems Predictive Modelling of Conflict Hotspots by integrating ecological and behavioural data to forecast future HEC zones under various land-use scenarios Developing a ten-year Strategic Management Plan by creating a Conflict Mitigation Toolbox (CMT) and Strategic Action Plan (SAP) that informs policy and practice. Noted elephant expert from IISc Raman Sukumar said, conflict has been increasing and there is a need for scientific understanding before taking action. The conflict cannot be completely eliminated, but can be reduced. Thus, this study, which will be done across all elephant ranges, will be beneficial.
Time of India
3 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Forest dept & IISc experts take up Rs 4.7-crore study to reduce human-elephant conflict
Bengaluru: Exploring scientific solutions to reduce human-elephant conflict across Karnataka, the forest department Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) for landscape-level conservation of Asian elephants. Renowned ecologist and elephant expert from IISc, Prof Raman Sukumar, and Karnataka chief wildlife warden Prabhash Chandra Ray signed the commencement of the Rs 4.7-crore project, fully funded by the forest department. Admitting an increase in elephant conflicts across Karnataka, forest minister Eshwar Khandre attributed the problem to urbanisation, which has resulted in the fragmentation of elephant habitats. "Expressways have come up on the elephant corridor, developmental works have come up. All these have pushed elephants out of forests into human habitats, forcing us to coexist with each other. There 's an urgent need to create awareness on how to coexist," he pointed out, stating that over 150 elephants in just Hassan and Kodagu are living outside of forests. Prof Sukumar said, "As instances of conflict are being reported everywhere, we need to scientifically understand why this is happening and then take management actions. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 I migliori asset da tenere d'occhio prima della fine del 2025 eToro Market Updates Scopri di più Undo We can't eliminate the conflict completely, but we can bring it to a tolerable level. As part of the programme, scientific studies will be conducted in all elephant habitats, especially the Mysore elephant reserve, which has India's highest elephant population, and we'll look at a variety of management methods to mitigate conflicts. " You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru The five-year study will address strengthening habitat connectivity by mapping elephant corridors and evaluating barriers using satellite telemetry, monitoring demographic and physiological health of jumbos, understanding behaviour and conflict propensity, elephant communication and acoustic monitoring, and predictive modelling of conflict hotspots. The project also involves a biannual review of the study, annual reports, and a real-time data dashboard.
