‘Managing Human-Elephant Conflict in Arunachal Pradesh: A Strategy and Action Plan’ – a statewide assessment conducted jointly by WWF-India and the Forest Department between December 2024 and March 2026 – has been released.

The study, which documented elephant distribution, conflict hotspots, habitat pressures, and landscape connectivity across the state, is reported to be the first comprehensive assessment of the scale, intensity, and trends of human-elephant interactions in Arunachal, a significant achievement in itself.

The report also provides the first baseline data on crop losses, property damage, and human casualties caused by elephants in the state. It identifies habitat loss, degradation, and fragmentation as major drivers of human-elephant conflicts and recommends measures to reduce human casualties, compensate for crop losses, and promote community-led approaches for coexistence. The report further underscores the importance of maintaining habitat connectivity, noting that fragmented landscapes often force elephants into human-dominated areas, thereby increasing conflict.

While human-elephant conflict remains a cause for concern, with deaths due to elephant attacks being frequently reported in the state, there is an urgent need for policy planning and action-oriented interventions to ensure the safety of both humans and animals. The tragic deaths reported across the state point to the need for immediate intervention. As the report itself states, with evidence-based planning and locally driven action, Arunachal has the potential to become a model for managing human-elephant coexistence.