Assam Launches “Gajah Mitra”Scheme to Human-Elephant Conflict

The Assam government launched the “Gajah Mitra” (Elephant Friend) scheme on July 11, 2025, to address the rising instances of human-elephant conflict (HEC).

The scheme aims to protect elephants, reduce conflict, and promote peaceful coexistence in 80 high-risk areas across the state.

It involves community participation, creation of safe zones for elephants, and awareness programmes in villages affected by elephant movement.

The initiative will be led by forest officials, supported by local volunteers, and integrated with existing forest and wildlife management systems.

About Human-Elephant Conflict (HEC):

• Occurs when growing human populations and their activities (agriculture, infrastructure development) overlap with elephant habitats and movement corridors.
• Leads to crop raiding, property damage, human injuries, and fatalities, as well as retaliatory killings of elephants.

Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus):

• India holds over 60% of the wild Asian elephant population.
• Listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
• Protected under Schedule I of India’s Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
• Project Elephant: Launched by the Government of India in 1992 to protect elephants, their habitat, and corridors.

Assam:

• A state in Northeast India, known for its rich biodiversity, including a significant population of Asian elephants.
• Features diverse ecosystems like forests, grasslands, and wetlands, which are crucial elephant habitats.

Wildlife Conservation:

1. This scheme is a crucial step towards wildlife conservation efforts in India, particularly focusing on the protection of Asian elephants.
2. It highlights the importance of community-based conservation models in addressing human-wildlife interactions.

Sustainable Development:

• Addressing Human-Elephant Conflict (HEC) is vital for sustainable development in regions where human settlements and wildlife habitats overlap.
• It seeks to protect both human lives and property and the endangered elephant population.