Wildlife Research and Conservation Society

BACKGROUND

The North Kanara District of Karnataka State has a population of about 60 Asian elephants. This particular population of elephants is a descendant of an earlier generation that faced severe persecution by local communities during late 19th century.  The North Kanara District has the largest forest cover in the state. Yet the landscape is fragmented with cultivation, plantations and village settlements. Although the intensity of human-elephant conflict in the district is relatively low, it is expected to rise in the near future due to increase in irrigation leading to increased sugarcane cultivation, summer paddy cultivation and encroachment. If elephants and local people have to co-exist, it is important that adverse impact of each other’s presence and activities should be minimized.

 

PROJECT GOAL

Through this project, we have introduced the concept of Community-based Conflict Management (CBCM) as a model that empowers the local community in effective guarding methods and in reducing the crop loss due to elephants.

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PROJECT ACTIVITIES​​​