1 week ago
Andhra Pradesh Receives ₹170 Crore Plan To Reduce Elephant Conflicts
Andhra Pradesh is getting nearly ₹170 crore to help people and elephants live more safely together.
Elephants are moving through forests, farms and areas affected by construction.
Their population in the state grew from 65 in 2017 to 142 in 2023.
This has increased the chances of encounters between elephants and people.
People and elephants have both died in these conflicts.
Electric fences, roads, railways and explosives used against wild pigs can injure or kill elephants.
The plan will support early warnings, quick-response teams and safer routes for elephants.
The state is also using an app and local messaging groups to report elephant movements.
Officials want several government departments, farmers and communities to work together.
Andhra Pradesh will receive ₹169.98 crore over five years under a regional human-elephant conflict action plan.
The plan proposes ₹999.87 crore for Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, including ₹500 crore in central assistance.
Andhra Pradesh’s elephant population increased from 65 in 2017 to 142 in 2023, mainly across Chittoor, Tirupati and Annamayya districts.
Human-elephant conflict has been linked to fragmented habitats, agriculture, infrastructure projects, electrocution and explosive devices intended for wild pigs.
The plan recommends wildlife passages, stronger monitoring, rapid-response teams and coordination among government agencies and local communities.
- Who
- The Government of Andhra Pradesh, the Project Elephant Division, the Wildlife Institute of India and Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan are involved in the plan.
- What
- Andhra Pradesh will receive ₹169.98 crore over five years to reduce human-elephant conflict and improve elephant management.
- Where
- The measures concern Andhra Pradesh, especially elephant habitats in Chittoor, Tirupati and Annamayya districts, and the report was released in Visakhapatnam.
- When
- The funding will cover the next five years; the report was released on World Elephant Day.
- Why
- Elephant habitats and movement routes have been fragmented by agriculture, grazing, fuel-wood collection, roads, railways and other infrastructure, increasing risks to people and elephants.
Key facts
- Andhra Pradesh allocation
- ₹169.98 crore over five years
- Regional plan outlay
- ₹999.87 crore for Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu
- Central assistance
- ₹500 crore
- Andhra Pradesh share
- 17 per cent of the regional plan
- Elephant population
- Increased from 65 in 2017 to 142 in 2023
- Existing protection measures
- 735 km of elephant-proof trenches, along with solar fencing
- Major elephant-death cause
- Electrocution by live-wire fences was identified as a major cause











