Officials of the Forest Department and the Indian Institute of Science during the signing of an MoU to advance science-based conservation.
| Photo Credit: K. MURALI KUMAR
In order to advance science-based conservation of the Asian elephant (elephas maximus), the Karnataka Forest Department and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) on Tuesday signed a MoU to implement a five-year collaborative project titled ‘Landscape-Level Management of the Asian Elephant in the Mysore Elephant Reserve’.
The collaboration aims to generate a robust scientific foundation for mitigating human-elephant conflict and ensuring long-term conservation of the Asian elephants across Karnataka’s ecologically sensitive and conflict-prone regions.
Integrated technology
The project will integrate technologies such as satellite telemetry, camera traps, acoustic sensors, and agent-based models to inform targeted interventions and improve coexistence outcomes.
The project will address six core objectives — strengthening habitat connectivity: mapping elephant corridors and evaluating barriers to movement using satellite telemetry, camera traps, and GIS models; monitoring demographic and physiological health: assessing population dynamics, body condition, and stress indicators through non-invasive sampling (e.g. dung hormone assays); understanding behaviour and conflict propensity: studying crop-raiding patterns, social learning, and identifying high-conflict individuals through social network analysis; elephant communication and acoustic monitoring: cataloguing elephant vocalisations, particularly in conflict contexts, to develop sound-based deterrents and warning systems; predictive modelling of conflict hotspots: integrating ecological and behavioural data to forecast future HEC zones under various land-use scenarios, and developing a 10-year Strategic management plan: creating a conflict mitigation toolbox (CMT) and strategic action plan (SAP) that informs policy and practice.
₹4.74 crore project
The project will be executed between 2025–2029 and the total financial outlay is ₹4.74 crore, which will be funded by the Forest Department. Besides there would be biannual review meetings, annual reports, and a real-time data dashboard and the field sites will be spread across over 15 forest divisions and protected areas in southern Karnataka.
“Modern technology will be used to protect elephant corridors and habitats in order to control the increasing elephant-human conflict in the State and protect the crops of farmers on the edge of the forest areas,” said Environment Minister Eshwar Khandre.
He further said that elephant-human conflict is common in Hassan and Kodagu, causing loss of life and crop damage, and the department is taking all possible steps to control it.
Published – July 15, 2025 10:00 pm IST
