AP Launches Kumki Elephant Camp to Tackle Human-Wildlife Conflict

Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan on Wednesday virtually inaugurated the Gucchimi Kumki Elephant Camp at Seethanagaram mandal in Parvathipuram Manyam district. The specialised facility is expected to strengthen the state's wildlife management efforts by deploying trained elephants to steer wild herds away from human settlements, reducing damage to crops, property and lives.

Addressing the inaugural event, Pawan Kalyan said humans are not separate from nature but an integral part of it. He emphasised that sustainable development can only be achieved by maintaining a balance between economic progress and environmental conservation. The government, he said, is equally committed to protecting people living in forest-fringe villages and conserving wildlife through scientific interventions.

The Deputy Chief Minister recalled that during his recent visit to North Andhra, Palakonda MLA Nimmaka Jayakrishna and local residents highlighted the growing elephant menace. Frequent incursions by wild elephant herds into villages have caused heavy crop losses and disrupted the lives of farmers across Parvathipuram Manyam and neighbouring districts. He expressed confidence that the new camp would mark a turning point in reducing such conflicts.

Highlighting previous success, Pawan Kalyan said operations conducted in the Palamaner region with trained Kumki elephants Jayant and Abhimanyu, supported by modern tracking technology, helped reduce fatalities linked to human-elephant conflict by more than 70 per cent while significantly minimising crop damage. The government now plans to replicate the model in North Andhra.

He also thanked the Government of Karnataka for providing four specially trained Kumki elephants for the initiative and acknowledged the support of D.K. Shivakumar, Siddaramaiah, and Eshwar Khandre. The virtual programme was attended by K. Atchannaidu and Gummadi Sandhya Rani, who reaffirmed the government's commitment to safeguarding both communities and wildlife.