GPS study on elephant movements aims to mitigate conflicts in Assam

A recent five-year satellite tracking study of wild elephants in Assam has provided vital knowledge to help protect their habitats and reduce human-elephant conflicts in the region. Wildlife officials and conservationists observed four female-led herds and one solitary male elephant in the northern Brahmaputra River districts of Udalguri, Sonitpur, and Biswanath between April 2021 and June 2026.

Conducted by the Assam Forest Department and WWF-India, the study was published in a report titled 'Tracking the Giants: Movement and Habitat-Use Patterns of GPS-Collared Elephants in Assam'.

The study generated over 38,000 GPS locations, offering high-resolution data on elephants' seasonal movements across various landscapes, including forests, tea plantations, agricultural areas, and riverine habitats. Assam is home to the largest population of Asian elephants in the northeastern region, estimated at 4,149 individuals according to the 2025 Synchronised All India Elephant Census.

However, habitat loss and degradation have severely impacted elephant populations, leading to increased human-elephant conflicts, resulting in 1,147 human casualties and 246 elephant deaths since 2016. The study sheds light on critical elephant habitats and movements, emphasizing the importance of protected areas like Sonai-Rupai, Behali, and Bornadi Wildlife Sanctuaries, as well as tea plantations, which serve as significant movement pathways.

The findings will assist conservation authorities in developing effective strategies and human-elephant coexistence measures, crucial for mitigating conflicts and ensuring the safe coexistence of people and wildlife across Assam.