Science, policy and persistence: Praveen Bhargav’s roadmap for Elephant Conservation
By Ifham Nizam Wildlife conservation cannot be driven by emotion alone. It must be backed by sound science, reliable data, effective policy and practical solutions that work on the ground, according to Indian conservationist Praveen Bhargav, Managing Trustee of Wildlife First. Bhargav is in Colombo at the invitation of the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society […]
Indian conservationist Praveen Bhargav, Managing Trustee of Wildlife First, delivered a World Elephant Day lecture in Colombo, emphasizing the importance of science, data, policy, and practical solutions for elephant conservation. Bhargav stressed that conservation efforts must be grounded in science, acknowledging gaps in knowledge and encouraging research in deficient areas.
He highlighted habitat fragmentation as a major challenge for elephants, noting that conserving their habitat is crucial, as these mega-herbivores require extensive areas for movement. The conservationist argued that policy decisions should have robust ecological foundations, cautioning that well-intentioned policies could lead to unintended consequences if not scientifically validated.
Bhargav shared India's experience with practical interventions to restore fragmented wildlife habitats, including the voluntary resettlement of people from critical areas and the scientific identification and protection of elephant corridors. He emphasized that conservation solutions must be site-specific, advocating for calibrated approaches to ensure interventions are appropriate to local conditions.
Bhargav also stressed the importance of regularly monitoring wildlife populations to assess the effectiveness of conservation policies.
Written by urgent.news from The Island Sri Lanka's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
