Relevance: GS III (Environment & Biodiversity) | Source: The Hindu

1. The Problem: A ‘Landscape of Fear’

• The Location: A 20-year study focused on Sonitpur, Assam, where humans and elephants live close together.
• The Strategy: To protect crops, the government and WWF-India formed Anti-Depredation Squads (ADS). These are local villager groups who use firecrackers and loud noise to chase elephants away.
• The Surprising Result: Instead of saving elephants, the study found that deaths were 2.3 times higher in villages with these squads.

2. Why are the Deaths Increasing?

• Panic and Stress: When elephants are constantly chased with firecrackers, they live in a “Landscape of Fear.” * Accidents: Panicked elephants stop being careful. While running away in fear, they often fall into deep trenches, get hit by fast-moving trains, or touch live electric wires (electrocution).
• Habitat Loss: Because forest land is being turned into tea gardens, elephants have no choice but to pass through human areas, leading to more conflict.

3. The Better Way Forward

• From Chasing to Coexistence: Experts say we should stop “scaring” elephants.
• Smart Solutions: Instead of crackers, we can use Bio-fences (planting chili or keeping beehives which elephants avoid) and Early Warning Systems (SMS alerts to farmers) that don’t cause the animals to panic.

UPSC Value Box

With reference to elephant conservation in India, consider the following statements:

1. The term ‘Landscape of Fear’ refers to an environment where constant human-animal conflict leads to high stress and accidental deaths of wildlife.
2. Project Elephant is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme aimed at protecting elephant habitats and reducing human-elephant conflict.
3. Sonitpur district, known for high human-elephant conflict, is located in the state of Karnataka.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Correct Answer: (a)