Assam recorded 502 human deaths due to elephant attacks (2019–2025), with fatalities rising to 119 in 2024–25, highlighting worsening Human–Elephant Conflict (HEC).

Key Highlights

• Assam is the 4th most affected state after Odisha, Jharkhand and West Bengal.
• Deaths increased by nearly 59% in six years.
• Despite mitigation efforts, no consistent decline in fatalities is observed.

Understanding Human–Elephant Conflict (HEC)

• It refers to negative interactions between humans and elephants, leading to loss of life, crops, and property.
• Common in regions where forest habitats overlap with human settlements.

Major Causes

• Habitat loss and fragmentation due to deforestation and infrastructure projects.
• Encroachment of elephant corridors and migration routes.
• Crop raiding as elephants are attracted to agricultural fields.
• Climate variability altering food and water availability.
• Lack of early warning systems and poor ground-level coordination.

Institutional Framework

• Primary responsibility lies with State Governments (Forest Departments).
• Supported by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

Key Schemes and Measures

• Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats Scheme
  • Provides financial assistance for conservation and compensation.
• Ex-gratia compensation
  • Increased to Rs 10 lakh for human deaths (2023 revision).
• Project Elephant (1992)
  • Focuses on elephant conservation, habitat protection, and conflict mitigation.
• Local initiatives like Gajamitra Scheme (Assam) for community participation.

Exam Hook

Prelims Question:
With reference to Human–Elephant Conflict in India, consider the following statements:

1. Project Elephant is implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
2. Ex-gratia compensation for death due to wild animal attacks is fixed uniformly across all states.
3. Elephant corridors are critical for reducing conflict.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 3 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

One-line wrap: Rising human–elephant conflict in Assam reflects deeper ecological imbalance, demanding urgent habitat protection and community-driven solutions.

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