"Habitat connectivity, not translocation, is the sustainable answer to human–elephant conflict." Discuss with reference to recent experiences in the Western Ghats.

India holds over 60% of the world's Asian elephants, with home ranges of 100–3,000 km² [1]. Animals that range so widely cannot be confined to one forest patch, so conflict is largely a symptom of broken connectivity. Recent Western Ghats experience shows that reopening paths works better than removing "problem" elephants, though it is not enough on its own.

Why translocation falls short

• Treats the symptom: moving one tusker leaves the fragmented landscape, and the next conflict animal, in place.
• Displaces conflict: Arikomban, translocated from Chinnakkanal in 2023, strayed far from its release site and had to be captured again.
• Costly: it needs tranquilisation, radio-collars and kumki teams for a single animal.

Why connectivity is more sustainable: Western Ghats evidence

• Chinnakkanal (Idukki, Kerala): illegal fences on elephant passages were removed on the District Collector's directive. The tusker Chakkakompan then moved into Mathikettan Shola National Park, which was reported as a positive sign for conflict mitigation [2].
• Restored corridors: MoEFCC cites Thirunelli–Kudarakote (Wayanad), Segur (Mudumalai) and Kaniyanpura–Moyar (Bandipur) as successful restorations [1].
• Ecological gain: corridors enable dispersal and gene flow, which keeps fragmented populations viable [1].

Limits of connectivity alone

• Corridors are eroding: of 150 corridors validated in 2023, elephant use is falling in 29 and 15 are impaired [1].
• Weak protection: most corridor boundaries are not demarcated [1]. Chinnakkanal's fences were built even though they were illegal [2], and a one-time order cannot stop them returning.
• Local burden: fences protect crops and homes, so removing them shifts risk onto households unless relief is prompt. Ex-gratia is ₹10 lakh for death and ₹2 lakh for grievous injury [3].

Connectivity tackles the cause of conflict, while translocation merely relocates it. Passages will stay open if corridors are demarcated and included in working plans, as Project Elephant urges [1], and if ex-gratia is paid within 24 hours, as the Centre advises [3]. In keeping with Article 51A(g) and SDG 15, coexistence through connectivity should be the norm and translocation a last resort.