AP Unveils Multi-Pronged Plan to Curb Human-Elephant Conflict Along Odisha Border

The Andhra Pradesh government has unveiled a comprehensive strategy to tackle the rising human-elephant conflict along the Andhra Pradesh-Odisha border, announcing the deployment of two trained kumki elephants to safeguard vulnerable villages in Parvathipuram Manyam district. The initiative is part of a broader wildlife management plan aimed at reducing elephant incursions into human settlements while ensuring the safety of both local communities and the animals.

Acting on the directions of Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, the Forest Department has completed preparations to shift the two kumki elephants from the Musalamadugu Elephant Camp in Palamaner, Chittoor district, to the Gucchimi Camp near the Odisha border. The deployment is expected to provide long-term relief to villages that frequently experience crop damage and property loss due to elephant herds crossing over from neighbouring Odisha.

The trained elephants, Jayanth and Abhimanyu, have extensive experience in managing conflict situations involving wild elephants. While Jayanth was trained at Andhra Pradesh's Naniyal Elephant Camp, Abhimanyu was brought from Karnataka, which has long relied on kumki elephants for wildlife management. The pair has already participated in six major operations, including the successful capture of a rogue elephant near Palamaner.

Kumki elephants are specially trained captive elephants used by forest officials to guide, control, and drive wild elephant herds away from human habitations without harming them. Their deployment has proven effective in several southern states, particularly in mitigating human-elephant conflict.

According to the Forest Department, habitat degradation, shrinking forest cover, and the scarcity of food and water are forcing elephants to move into villages in search of resources. To address the issue, the Andhra Pradesh government also plans to coordinate with the Odisha government to facilitate the safe return of elephant herds to forest areas and explore the possibility of deploying additional kumki elephants if required.

The government has simultaneously announced a range of preventive measures, including the installation of solar fencing, construction of elephant-proof trenches, creation of water sources inside forests, and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and drone-based surveillance to monitor elephant movement. Hanuman Rapid Response Teams will also be deployed in vulnerable villages, alongside awareness programmes to educate residents on safety protocols during elephant encounters.

Officials believe the combination of trained kumki elephants, advanced surveillance technology, habitat management, and inter-state cooperation will offer a sustainable solution to the recurring human-elephant conflict in the border region.