‘Technology key to tackling human-elephant conflicts'
As the world marks World Elephant Day on August 12, Kerala is grappling with an alarming surge in human-elephant conflicts, prompting calls for urgent, technology-driven interventions backed by multi-disciplinary research.
Of the 50,000 Asian elephants across their range countries, India holds nearly 27,300, more than 11,000 in southern India, and about 3,000 in Kerala alone. Recent quick estimates show a 15% rise in wild elephant numbers in the southern States, even as the State's captive elephant population has dwindled to just 300, according to Dr. T.P. Sethumadhavan, former Director of Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University.
'Human-elephant conflict is no longer just a conservation problem, it's a social crisis. We need stakeholder-based research, country-specific action plans, and policy interventions,' Dr. Sethumadhavan stressed. 'Technology tools, AI, machine learning, IoT, can provide early warning systems that save both human and elephant lives.'
Threats to captive elephants
Captive elephants face mounting health threats, from impaction, which has killed over 25% in the last two decades due to poor feed practices, diseases like arthritis, tuberculosis, and herpes. 'Unlike in other range countries, India has no retirement age for elephants. They are compelled to work till death. Climate stress, overwork, cruelty, and poor health management have worsened their condition,' he said.
Citing PETA's findings of higher tuberculosis rates among captive elephants, Dr. Sethumadhavan added, 'Globally, zoos treat elephants as rare species, keeping visitors at a safe distance to prevent human-to-animal disease transmission. India needs a strict policy framework to adopt such guidelines.'
50 attack deaths in 5 years
Kerala's wild elephant conflicts are concentrated around forest fringes. In the past five years, over 50 people have died, more than half in Kannur and Kasaragod districts, including 17 near Aralam Farm. Other hotspots include Athirappilly (Thrissur), Idukki, Palakkad, Pathanamthitta, and Wayanad.
The International Elephant Foundation warns that with only 40,000–50,000 left globally, Asian elephants could become regionally extinct in parts of their range within 10 years due to habitat loss, fragmentation, and escalating human-wildlife clashes.
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