Andhra to deploy 2 kumki elephants to curb man-animal conflict near Odisha border

Andhra Pradesh Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan directed the Forest Department to deploy two trained 'kumki' elephants in Parvathipuram Manyam district to mitigate man-elephant conflict near the Odisha border.

The elephants, Jayant (trained at Naniyal Elephant Camp) and Abhimanyu (brought from Karnataka), will be shifted from Musalamadugu Camp to Guchchimi Camp.

Both elephants have experience in managing human-elephant conflict and recently participated in capturing a lone wild tusker near Palamaner.

The Forest Department attributes increasing elephant movement to habitat fragmentation, shrinking forest cover, and shortages of food and water.

Mitigation measures include solar fencing, elephant-proof trenches, AI-based monitoring, drone surveillance, and awareness programmes.