The Asian Elephant Conservation Research and Conflict Management Centre has been established in Coimbatore under the Tamil Nadu Innovation Initiatives (TANII) to tackle the ongoing human-elephant conflict in the region. With 15,000 incidents of wild elephants entering human habitations between 2021 and 2024, Coimbatore remains a hotspot for such interactions.
Located at the District Forest Office on Mettupalayam Road, the centre serves as a hub for research, data collection, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing (RS) mapping, knowledge sharing, and census operations related to human-elephant conflict. The initiative has received ₹1.87 crore in funding and aims to develop innovative solutions for conflict mitigation.
Innovative Approaches to Conflict Resolution
The centre recently conducted a hackathon for engineering students, encouraging them to create innovative solutions for human-animal conflict. Winning projects will be tested in the field in April to evaluate their feasibility.
To promote awareness, the centre launched the “Friends of Elephants” initiative, educating the public on the importance of elephants in forest conservation.
Research and Conservation Efforts
Led by M. Naveen, a scientist at the centre, the research team includes a GIS analyst and a wildlife researcher. Their work focuses on studying elephant behavior, landscape changes, and conservation strategies.
The Asian Elephant Committee guiding the centre includes:
- N.S. Manoharan – Former Additional Director of Veterinary Services
- D. Boominathan – Landscape Coordinator, WWF-India, Western Ghats Nilgiris Landscape Programme
- G. Sivasubramanian – Assistant Professor and Head (in-charge), Department of Wildlife Biology, Kongunadu Arts and Science College
The centre will collect data from the Coimbatore Forest Division and surrounding areas, tracking elephant movements across Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka. Given their wide-ranging nature, understanding elephant migration patterns is crucial for effective conflict resolution.
This initiative marks a significant step towards coexistence between humans and elephants, ensuring both conservation and community safety.
