India holds nearly 60% of the global Asian elephant population and Human–Elephant Conflict (HEC) leads to ~500 human deaths annually.

Triggers for Human–Elephant Conflict

• Man-Made Triggers
  • Habitat Loss and Fragmentation: Deforestation, expansion of agriculture, human settlements etc. divide elephant habitats, pushing them into human settlements.
  • Infrastructure Development: Construction of highways, railway tracks block traditional migratory corridors.
• Natural Triggers
  • Climate Variability: Like droughts, rising temperatures reduce food and water availability, forcing elephants to move into new areas.
  • Seasonal Migration Patterns: Elephants migrate in search of forage and water and its scarcity pushes them into croplands.
  • Natural Habitat Degradation: Wildfires, invasive species spread, or ecological changes reduce natural forage availability.

Potential Solutions

• Landscape-Level Habitat Connectivity: Secure and legally protect elephant corridors to reconnect fragmented habitats through initiatives like IFAW’s Room to Roam.
• Early Warning and Technology: Use SMS alerts, LED warning systems, sensors, GPS collars, and railway detection systems to prevent surprise encounters.
• Physical and Biological Barriers: Install solar fencing, trenches, bee-hive fences, chilli deterrents, and bio-fencing to restrict elephant entry into farms.
• Habitat Improvement Measures: Enhance forest resources by developing waterholes, borewells, fodder plantations, bamboo restocking, and removing invasive species.
• Alternative Cropping Patterns: Encourage cultivation of elephant-unpalatable crops like chilli, citrus, ginger, and onion in vulnerable areas.