Bandhavgarh Human-Elephant Conflict Mitigation Project

Habitat loss and forest fragmentation have been one of the major challenges for conserving the elephants in India, leading to increased human-elephant conflict. Fragmentation of elephant habitats has resulted in the reduction of available undisturbed spaces, thereby leading to the compression of elephant herds in Protected Areas (PAs), causing escalation of human–elephant conflict in the adjoining human-dominated landscapes. Conflicts between people and elephants result in the loss of more than 600 humans and 450 elephant lives every year in Asia. The relatively recent movement of elephants to Madhya Pradesh from Chhattisgarh from 2017 onwards (about 50 elephants) largely confined to Sanjay TR, Bandhavgarh TR, and Shadhol Circle has resulted in increased human-elephant interactions.  The frontline forest staff and the villagers do not have prior experience with elephants in the state and are not trained to deal with the situation. About 100+ villages are impacted by HEC with 40 of them majorly impacted. To mitigate conflict, it is critical that the connectivity between Chhattisgarh and MP and within the state is identified to understand elephant movement, map the conflict areas and hotspots and create and train a primary response team (PRT) to manage the conflict. Capacity building of frontline forest staff and PRT is equally needed to prepare them to manage the situation. Sensitizing people about elephants and preventive measure is critical to avert negative encounters.

On request of the Madhya Pradesh Government, WTI is working on the above issue to identify elephant corridors and mitigate Human-elephant conflict. The project is implemented in Bandhavgarh Landscape (Sanjay TR, Bandhavgarh, and Shadhol circle): the landscape lies in Deccan Peninsular Central Highlands located between the Vindhyan and the Eastern flanks of the Satpura mountain ranges. The landscape has vast grasslands, bamboo clusters, and thick stands of Sal trees. The landscape has high tigers density and is also home to many other wildlife including leopards, sloth bears, spotted deer, Sambar, Langur, Red-faced Monkeys, Jungle Cats, Bengal Fox, Mongoose, Striped Hyena, Bandicoot Rats, Asiatic Jackal, and Wild Boars, Nilgai, Chausingha, Chinkara and Indian Bison.

Project impact statement

Impacts of human-elephant conflict reduced in Bandhavgarh landscape

Project components

The following are the tentative broad components of the project:

• Existing baselines assessed to identify gaps, develop strategy for on-ground interventions to better manage and reduce HEC in select conflict prone areas
• Based on existing baselines, elephant corridor(s) in the project landscape is/are identified and mapped
• An effective response mechanism established through project team and PRTs in the project landscape
• At least 50% of HWC incidents are attended by project team and PRTs in identified conflict prone areas

PARTNERS: Madhya Pradesh Forest Department

PROJECT LEAD: Prajakta Hushangabadkar