Archive · 16 Aug 2026
Pawan Kalyan orders drone surveillance for wild elephants near Tirupati
Some wild elephants are living near a big forest in India.
They have been walking into farm fields at night.
When they walk through the fields, they damage the crops that farmers grow for food.
A leader named Pawan Kalyan helps take care of the forests in his state.
He asked forest workers to use drones to watch the elephants.
Drones are flying cameras that can see where the elephants are going.
He also asked workers to warn people in nearby villages with loudspeakers and phone messages.
Villagers are told not to go to the fields at night so they stay safe.
Special teams called HANUMAN teams will help protect people, and farmers whose crops are damaged will get money to help pay for the loss.
Pawan Kalyan also said that trained elephants called Kumki elephants have helped reduce accidents by 70 percent.
Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan directed officials to use drones to track a wild elephant herd near Erravaripalem in Tirupati district.
Elephants from the Seshachalam forest split into two herds and entered fields at night, damaging crops along the forest boundary.
Night patrols, loudspeaker alerts and mobile messages were ordered to keep villagers informed about elephant movement.
HANUMAN teams will be deployed where needed, and residents have been advised not to visit agricultural fields at night.
Compensation for crop damage will be paid immediately after Forest Department officials submit their damage reports.
- Who
- Pawan Kalyan, Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and Forest and Environment Minister, along with Forest, Revenue and Police department officials.
- What
- Ordered drone surveillance, night patrols and village alerts to track wild elephants entering fields and damaging crops.
- When
- On Sunday, following reports of elephants entering fields at night; World Elephant Day was marked on August 13.
- Where
- Near Erravaripalem, close to Chandragiri in Tirupati district of Andhra Pradesh, along the Seshachalam forest boundary.
- Why
- Elephants from the Seshachalam forest split into two herds and entered fields at night, damaging crops and posing a risk to people and property.
- Official
- Pawan Kalyan, Deputy Chief Minister and Forest and Environment Minister of Andhra Pradesh
- Location
- Erravaripalem near Chandragiri, Tirupati district, Andhra Pradesh
- Elephant source
- Seshachalam forest area, two herds
- Key measures
- Drone surveillance, night patrols, loudspeaker and mobile message alerts
- Coordinating departments
- Forest, Revenue and Police
- Special teams
- HANUMAN teams deployed where needed
- Compensation
- Immediate payment for crop losses after Forest Department damage reports
- Kumki elephants impact
- Reduced human fatalities in forest-fringe areas by 70 percent