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India Today
6 days ago
- General
- India Today
When elephants cross our path: Why coexistence is India's greatest conservation challenge
Last month, in a small village in eastern India, a herd of elephants wandered into farmland at night. By morning, the crops were gone, the fence was broken, and tempers were high. It's a scene that plays out across India far too often, a reminder that the line between the wild and the human world is not just thin, it is is home to more than 60% of the world's remaining Asian elephants. These gentle giants are woven into our mythology, our art, and our sense of national pride. Yet, they are increasingly forced to navigate a dangerous maze of highways, railway tracks, and expanding towns that have fractured their traditional migratory routes, the ancient elephant spoke with Farah Siddiqui, Director, Elephant Family Foundation India, to get more insights. When these paths are blocked, elephants are left with little choice but to enter villages in search of food and water. What follows can be tragic: crops destroyed, property damaged, and sometimes, lives lost, on both sides. This is not just a wildlife problem. It is a human problem, and the solution lies not in fences or fear, but in IS NOT JUST ROMANTIC, ITS PRACTICAL TOOFor many, the idea of 'human-elephant coexistence' sounds like a lofty ideal. In reality, it is a hard-won balance, built through years of dialogue, innovation, and trust between communities and Karnataka's forest-fringe villages, for example, the Holematthi Nature Foundation has worked with local residents to reduce dependence on firewood gathered from elephant habitats. With support from the Elephant Family Foundation India (EFFI), these communities have adopted sustainable energy alternatives that have cut per capita firewood use by up to 85%. This not only protects forests but reduces the risk of dangerous interventions prove a simple truth: when people have safe, sustainable ways to meet their needs, they have fewer reasons to see elephants as AS A BRIDGEAt EFFI, our journey began in 2017 with a different kind of conservation campaign, one that brought elephants into the heart of India's cities, not as real herds, but as life-sized sculptures painted by leading artists. The Elephant Parade India 2018 transformed streets in Mumbai, Jaipur, Kolkata, and Delhi into open-air galleries, each sculpture carrying a story about conservation and weren't just pretty installations. The funds they raised have gone directly to grassroots NGOs working to restore corridors, mitigate conflict, and empower communities who live alongside elephants every CHILDREN HOLD THE KEYadvertisementThe next step in this journey is clear: we must teach the next generation that coexistence is not optional, it is essential. This year, EFFI is launching a new awareness programme for children, using stories, art, and interactive learning to build empathy for wildlife from an early children understand that every species, from the tiger to the termite, plays a role in keeping our ecosystems healthy, they grow into adults who protect rather than exploit. Coexistence becomes part of their worldview, not just their Indian culture, elephants are more than majestic animals, they are symbols of wisdom, protection, and new beginnings, embodied in Lord Ganesha, the remover of obstacles. Just as Ganesha ushers in auspicious starts, fostering coexistence between humans and elephants can mark the beginning of a more harmonious chapter in our shared IMPERATIVEAs our cities grow and our forests shrink, we are running out of space and excuses. The choice before us is simple: we can build walls that keep the wild out, or we can create pathways that allow both humans and elephants to live, and thrive, Elephant Day is not just a date on the calendar. It is a reminder that the future of India's elephants — and the health of our environment — depends on the decisions we make we can get coexistence right for elephants, we can get it right for every endangered species in India. And that, in turn, means getting it right for ourselves.- Ends
Time of India
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
In Bengaluru, tech & art coexist
Bengaluru's identity as the tech capital of India works as a catalyst for artistic engagement,' notes Farah Siddiqui, founder of Cultivate Art, who brought the Young Collectors Weekend to the city in a bid to make art 'collection accessible, personal, and exciting'. 'Whether it's tech, food, music, or visual art, people here are hungry for new experiences. That curiosity creates a fantastic audience for contemporary art. There's no snobbery — just a real desire to understand and engage. I believe there's a unique creativity that exists within the scientific and technological mind. Engineers, coders, designers — they are constantly solving problems, pushing boundaries, thinking laterally. That spirit is no different from what artists do,' she explains. Excerpts from a chat: 'PEOPLE IN BENGALURU HAVE EXCELLENT ARTISTIC TASTE' 'Over the last two decades, the Indian art market has evolved tremendously. Speaking historically, it was mostly concentrated between Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata. Yet, Southern India, especially Bengaluru, has a rich culture of collecting art. It is not limited to only contemporary art; the collectors here are incredibly discerning and astute. They have a sharp eye with a refined taste in aesthetics,' says Farah, and adds, 'Art can feel intimidating for those just stepping into the world of art collecting. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 2025 Top Trending local enterprise accounting software [Click Here] Esseps Learn More Undo People believe that you have to 'know' something before you can even enter a gallery. But really, it starts with looking. The more you see, the more you understand what moves you.' Whether it's tech, food, music, or visual art, people in Bengaluru are hungry for new experiences. That curiosity creates a fantastic audience for contemporary art Farah 'ART HITS DIFFERENTLY IN BENGALURU' Hansika Sharma, an artist displaying her work at the event, reveals, 'Art hits differently in Bengaluru as it interrupts the pace. People used to designing systems and solving tangible problems suddenly find themselves looking at something quiet, textured, unresolved. And in that moment, they seem to soften. It's like art becomes a portal — a slower, more sensory language that asks them to feel instead of fix.' Check out our list of the latest Hindi , English , Tamil , Telugu , Malayalam , and Kannada movies . Don't miss our picks for the best Hindi movies , best Tamil movies, and best Telugu films .
