Jharkhand to Establish India’s First Human-Elephant Conflict Centre

Jharkhand is set to establish the country’s first dedicated Human-Elephant Conflict Research Centre at the Palamu Tiger Reserve.

The objective is to study the growing conflicts between humans and elephants and develop scientific solutions to reduce casualties and habitat-related stress.

The proposed centre will be built on nearly 20 acres of identified land between Palamu Fort and Kamaldah Lake within the reserve area. The project proposal has been prepared by the Jharkhand government and submitted for further approval.

Features of the Human-Elephant Conflict Research Centre

Officials stated that the centre will use scientific instruments and Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based systems to analyse elephant behaviour patterns, causes of conflict, herd movement, habitat stress, and human responses.

The facility is also expected to function as a long-term decision-support and policy research centre for states frequently facing human-elephant conflict situations.

Researchers will study conflict conditions, breeding periods, childbirth, seasonal changes, communication signals, movement in search of food and water, and elephant behaviour in response to threats or environmental stress.

Elephant Population in Jharkhand

According to the 2025 “Elephant Status Report” by the Wildlife Institute of India, Jharkhand has 217 elephants. Out of these, nearly 130 elephants are found in the Palamu Tiger Reserve, making it the region with the highest elephant concentration in the state.

Forest officials stated that Jharkhand currently has 17 elephant corridors, and human-elephant conflict remains a major concern. Since January 2026, more than 30 people have died in such incidents in the state, while 474 deaths were recorded between 2019 and 2024.

First Report on the Status of Elephants in India

India’s first national-level DNA-based elephant census has found a 25% decline in the country’s elephant population over the past eight years, reflecting increasing challenges such as habitat loss, fragmentation, and human-elephant conflict.

According to the report titled “Status of Elephants in India: Synchronized All India Elephant Population Estimation using DNA-based Approach (SAIEE 2021–25),” India’s elephant population stands at 22,446, compared to 29,964 in 2017.

This exercise was conducted by the Wildlife Institute of India under Project Elephant (1992).

Importance of the Study

This study marks a shift from visual and dung-based counting methods to a DNA mark-recapture technique, allowing a more scientific and accurate estimation of elephant populations.

DNA-Based Method : This method, similar to the one used in tiger population estimation, identifies individual elephants through specific genetic markers, overcoming the challenge caused by the lack of distinct physical features among elephants.

Regional Distribution of Elephants in India

Karnataka – 6,013

Assam – 4,159

Tamil Nadu – 3,136

Kerala – 2,785

Uttarakhand – 1,792

Odisha – 912

Regional Trends of Elephants in India

Western Ghats: 11,934 elephants (14,587 in 2017)

North-Eastern Hills and Brahmaputra Plains: 6,559 (10,139 in 2017)

Central Indian Plateau and Eastern Ghats: 1,891 (3,128 in 2017)

Shivalik-Ganga Plains: 2,062 (almost unchanged from 2,085 in 2017)

Areas with Highest Human-Elephant Conflict

The highest human-elephant conflict has been reported in Assam (Sonitpur and Golaghat) and central Indian regions such as Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha.

In Central India, where elephants account for less than 10% of the total population, elephant-related incidents are responsible for 45% of human deaths caused by such conflicts.