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Wildlife Conservation and Conflict for UPSC
51 notes · updated 22 Oct 2026
The basics
Wildlife conservation refers to the protection and management of biodiversity to ensure the survival of species and the maintenance of healthy ecosystems. In India, this is governed by the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and aligned with international frameworks like the Convention on Biological Diversity. Key concepts include the protection of flagship and umbrella species, the preservation of biological corridors to mitigate habitat fragmentation, and the management of protected areas such as National Parks and Sanctuaries.
Human-wildlife conflict arises when expanding human activities, such as agriculture and infrastructure development, encroach upon natural habitats. This creates a critical dichotomy between developmental goals and environmental preservation. Effective mitigation requires a multi-pronged approach involving habitat restoration, community-based conservation, and the provision of ecosystem services. UPSC evaluates this topic to test an aspirant's understanding of ecological balance, the legal framework for biodiversity, and the socio-economic challenges of coexisting with wildlife in a densely populated country.
In the news
- Tamil Nadu to spend ₹180 crore for human-wildlife conflict mitigation in 100 villages
The Tamil Nadu government announced a ₹180 crore Comprehensive Human-Wildlife Conflict Mitigation Scheme to address safety and ecological issues in 100 villages across the Western Ghats.
- Habitat fragmentation is primary threat to elephants, wildlife biologist P.S. Easa states
Wildlife biologist P.S. Easa identified habitat fragmentation as the primary threat to elephants during a Coexistence Collective conclave in Thiruvananthapuram.
- Human-elephant conflicts killed 1,147 humans and 246 elephants since 2016 in Assam
The Assam Forest Department and WWF-India released a report detailing human-elephant conflict data and habitat mapping in Assam to address rising fatalities.
- Kerala's Agriculture Minister T
Kerala's Agriculture Minister T. Siddique announced a State-level conclave at Thiruvambady to develop strategies for mitigating human-wildlife conflict and wildlife attacks on farmers.
- Exotic Animal Backlog Hits 2,000 in Tamil Nadu; Vikram’s Video Adds Heat
A massive backlog of 2,000 applications for exotic animal registration in Tamil Nadu highlights enforcement challenges and infrastructure gaps in wildlife regulation.
- Andhra Pradesh Deputy CM calls for human-elephant coexistence on World Elephant Day
Andhra Pradesh Deputy CM and Union Minister called for a shift from human-elephant conflict to coexistence during a conference on World Elephant Day.
- Andhra Pradesh to Add 25 Tiger Protection Camps as Recent Deaths Alarm Officials
The Andhra Pradesh government approved 25 new tiger protection camps following a High-Level Committee recommendation to curb tiger mortality.
- Andhra Pradesh Brings in 30 Gaurs and 4 Tigers to Revive NSTR Wildlife
The Andhra Pradesh government is translocating gaurs and tigers to the Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve (NSTR) to restore the prey base and genetic diversity of the ecosystem.
- 18 years on, Sariska’s tiger reintroduction pushes Centre to act on big cat-deficient reserves
The Environment Ministry released a report identifying 25 tiger reserves requiring priority interventions to establish viable populations due to low tiger density or prey abundance.
- Protecting elephants helps safeguard India’s forests as powerful carbon stores: Study
A study by Amity University published in the Journal of Threatened Taxa links elephant conservation to increased carbon sequestration in Indian forest reserves.
- Three-pronged strategy to tackle rising human-wildlife conflict in Kerala
Kerala's Forest and Wildlife Minister announced a three-pronged strategy to mitigate human-wildlife conflict through habitat management, rapid response, and compensation.
- Similipal’s black tigers are getting help
The Similipal Tiger Reserve successfully documented a tigress (Zeenat) and her cubs, marking a milestone for the translocation program from Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve to combat genetic collapse.
- Forest department set to launch 100-day action plan to reduce human-wildlife conflict
The Kerala Forest Department is launching a 100-day action plan to mitigate human-wildlife conflict through infrastructure, technology, and legislative amendments.
- Tigress Zeenat gives birth to four cubs in Similipal
Odisha CM Mohan Majhi announced that tigress Zeenat, relocated from Maharashtra's Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve in 2025, successfully gave birth to four cubs in Similipal Tiger Reserve.
- With 300 elephants outside forests, Karnataka fast-tracks rehab plan
The Karnataka Forest Department is fast-tracking a rehab plan for 300 wild elephants currently outside forest areas following the Centre's rejection of the Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary site.
- Experts slam India’s colonial mindset in tiger protection policy
Environmental activists and researchers criticized the Madhya Pradesh forest department's policy of classifying all tiger deaths as poaching, arguing it ignores the socio-economic realities of tribal communities.
- Negative human-wildlife interactions a major issue in ecologically-fragile Gudalur
Activists and residents in Gudalur, Tamil Nadu, are highlighting escalating human-wildlife conflicts and the lack of basic amenities for communities on disputed lands.
- Forest Minister Eshwar B
Forest Minister Eshwar B. Khandre directed officials to prioritize elephant trenches, solar-powered fencing, and increased patrolling in Kodagu district to mitigate high human-wildlife conflict deaths.
- 41 of 166 tiger deaths in country last year reported in Maharashtra
Maharashtra's Forest Minister Ganesh Naik reported 41 tiger deaths in 2025, while environmentalists criticized a proposal to reclassify leopards in the Wildlife Protection Act.
- Over 110 sensitive railway stretches identified across the country to curb elephant mortalities, says Centre
The Environment Ministry and Indian Railways identified 110 sensitive railway stretches to curb elephant mortalities through infrastructure and technology-based mitigation.
- Groups to prevent human-elephant conflict linked to more elephant deaths
A study in Conservation Biology suggests that Assam's anti-depredation squads (ADS), intended to mitigate human-elephant conflict, may be causing a 2-3x increase in accidental elephant deaths.
- A model for tackling human-animal conflict
The Tamil Nadu Forest Department is implementing a multi-pronged model to mitigate human-elephant conflict using rewilding, habitat protection, and AI-based early warning systems.
- ‘Hanuman’ project launched to tackle human–wildlife conflict in Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh launched the 'Hanuman' Project to mitigate human-wildlife conflict through scientific interventions and real-time monitoring.
- Karnataka Forest Minister says soft-release centre will be set up to address human-elephant conflict
Karnataka Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre announced a ₹53 crore soft-release centre to mitigate human-elephant conflict by relocating troublesome elephants to Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary.
- 940 camera traps were used for the phase III tiger estimation in PTR
The All India Tiger Estimation (AITE) phase III commenced at Periyar Tiger Reserve (PTR) using 940 camera traps to capture photographic data for population estimation.
- Maharashtra State Forest Minister Ganesh Naik reported 41 tiger deaths in 2025 and announced a recruitment plan for specialized wildlife protection units
Maharashtra State Forest Minister Ganesh Naik reported 41 tiger deaths in 2025 and announced a recruitment plan for specialized wildlife protection units.
- Andhra Pradesh prepares ground for translocation of two female tigers from Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh
The Andhra Pradesh government is preparing to translocate two female tigers from Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh to Papikonda National Park to boost the tiger population.
- Forest Minister Khandre holds meeting, gives instructions to officers on avoiding human-elephant conflict
Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre issued instructions to officials to mitigate human-elephant conflict following two fatalities in Chikkamagaluru.
- Railways moots more underpasses for wild elephants in Madukkarai forests near
The Palakkad Division of Southern Railway is proposing more underpasses in Madukkarai forests to mitigate elephant-train collisions.
- Tiger moved to bigger enclosure in Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve as part of rewilding plan
The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) approved a phased rewilding plan for a rescued tigress (MT-7) moved from Ranthambore to a larger enclosure in Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve.
- Ensure zero human death in elephant attacks: Jharkhand CM asks officials
Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren directed officials to develop a mechanism to prevent human deaths in man-elephant conflicts following an incident in Hazaribag district.
- Human deaths in encounter with elephants in Odisha, a cause of concern, says WSO
The Wildlife Society of Orissa (WSO) expressed concern over Odisha recording 171 human deaths due to elephant encounters in 2024-25, the highest in India.
- Call for tranquilised tiger’s rehabilitation in Andhra landscape grows louder
Wildlife experts and environmentalists are urging the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) to rehabilitate a tranquilized tiger in Andhra Pradesh instead of confining it.
- Wild animal attacks claim 685 human lives in Tamil Nadu in 10 years
The Tamil Nadu Forest Department reported 685 human deaths due to wild animal interactions between 2015 and 2025, highlighting the severity of human-animal conflict.
- All-India Tiger Estimation begins at Thanthai Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary in Erode
The Tamil Nadu Forest Department initiated the first phase of the All-India Tiger Estimation-2026 (AITE-26) at Thanthai Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary to assess tiger populations.
- Tiger census gets under way in Karnataka
Karnataka's Environment Minister Eshwar Khandre announced the commencement of the quadrennial tiger census across state forest areas and tiger reserves.
- First phase of nation-wide tiger estimation exercise to begin next week in the State
The Tamil Nadu Forest Department is set to commence the first phase of the All India Tiger Estimation (AITE) 2026 to assess tiger populations and prey bases.
- India loses 166 tigers in 2025, forty more than last year; Madhya Pradesh accounts for 55 deaths
The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) reported a 40% increase in tiger deaths in 2025, with Madhya Pradesh recording the highest fatalities.
- Human-wildlife conflict: Bhupender Yadav chairs meetings to review measures, discuss project updates
Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav chaired meetings of the NTCA and Project Elephant Steering Committee to review tiger and elephant conservation progress and human-wildlife conflict mitigation.
- Centre seeks report on death of elephants on railway tracks in Assam's Hojai: Bhupender Yadav
Union Minister Bhupender Yadav sought a report on the death of eight elephants in Assam's Hojai district following a train collision that derailed five coaches and the engine.
- Human-elephant conflict in Chittoor district shows sign of abatement
Andhra Pradesh's Deputy CM K. Pawan Kalyan and Karnataka's CM Siddaramaiah collaborated to deploy trained kumki elephants and early warning systems to mitigate human-elephant conflict in Chittoor.
- Minister for Forest, Environment and Ecology Eshwar Khandre announced the operationalization of an elephant task force in Dakshina Kannada to mitigate human-elephant conflict
Minister for Forest, Environment and Ecology Eshwar Khandre announced the operationalization of an elephant task force in Dakshina Kannada to mitigate human-elephant conflict.
- Forest Minister attributes human-animal conflicts to increase in animal population
Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre attributed the rise in human-animal conflicts to the population growth of wildlife following the implementation of the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.
- Committee tasked to recommend measures to prevent human
The Forest Department formed a committee led by S. Ramasubramanian to recommend measures to prevent human-animal conflict in the Valparai plateau following fatal leopard attacks on children.
- Man-animal conflict frays India’s wildlife conservation ethos
The WWF and UNEP reported that expanding infrastructure and habitat fragmentation are escalating human-wildlife conflict in India, threatening species survival and causing casualties.
- Arrangements in place to launch first phase of national tiger census
The Kerala Forest Department is initiating the first phase of the All India Tiger Estimation 2025-26 to conduct a three-phase national tiger census.
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Key facts
- Concept: Mitigation measures — includes solar fences, GPS-enabled vehicles, and night patrolling. note →
- Concept: Habitat fragmentation: Identified as the primary threat to elephants. note →
- Case: Supreme Court order: Mandates a nationwide survey of elephant corridors for protection. note →
- Figure: 1,147 humans and 246 elephants killed due to human-elephant conflicts in Assam since 2016. note →
- Concept: Habitat mapping: Utilizing GPS locations to identify and monitor elephant corridors and sanctuaries. note →
- Concept: Bio-fencing and AI — Proposed technologies to mitigate human-wildlife conflict. note →
Practice · 4 questions
Which region in Tamil Nadu is the primary focus of the ₹180 crore Human-Wildlife Conflict Mitigation Scheme?
- (a)Palani Hills
- (b)Annamalai Hills
- (c)Nilgiri Biosphere
- (d)Western Ghats
Answer
(d) Western Ghats — The scheme targets 100 villages across 11 districts in the Western Ghats region of Tamil Nadu. Note →
Which body's former member attended the Coexistence Collective conclave in Thiruvananthapuram?
- (a)Forest Survey of India
- (b)Wildlife Trust of India
- (c)Central Zoo Authority
- (d)National Board for Wildlife
Answer
(d) National Board for Wildlife — The note mentions that Prerna Singh Bindra, a former member of the National Board for Wildlife, attended the conclave. Note →
With reference to human-elephant conflicts in Assam, consider the following statements:
- The report identified Sonai-Rupai, Behali, and Bornadi as key elephant habitats.
- The report analyzed five elephant units across the Udalguri, Sonitpur, and Biswanath districts.
- Since 2016, human-elephant conflicts in Assam have resulted in the deaths of 1,147 humans.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- (a)1 only
- (b)2 only
- (c)1 and 3 only
- (d)1, 2 and 3
Answer
(d) 1, 2 and 3 — Statements 1, 2 and 3 are correct. Note →
Which technology is proposed as a method to mitigate human-wildlife conflict during the Kerala conclave?
- (a)Geo-fencing
- (b)Bio-fencing
- (c)Aero-fencing
- (d)Hydro-fencing
Answer
(b) Bio-fencing — The note mentions bio-fencing and AI as proposed technologies to mitigate human-wildlife conflict. Note →