Kumki Elephants Cut Human Fatalities by 70% in Andhra’s Forest Border Zones

Amaravati, August 16 — Speaking at the national ceremony marking World Elephant Day, Forest and Environment Minister Pawan Kalyan highlighted the success of ‘kumki’ elephants in reducing human casualties in Andhra Pradesh’s forest‑adjacent areas. The trained captive elephants, introduced on August 13, have helped lower fatalities by about 70 percent where wild elephants previously roamed near villages.

‘Kumki’ elephants are specially trained to intercept and guide stray wild herds away from cultivated lands and human settlements. The Andhra Pradesh Forest Department, with assistance from the Karnataka government, has brought four such elephants and provided them with targeted training for conflict mitigation and rescue operations.

Kalyan explained that the presence of kumki elephants not only deters wild elephants from entering farms but also assists in safely herding them back into deeper forest zones. Early field reports indicate a noticeable decline in crop damage and fewer reports of human‑elephant encounters in the districts where the animals have been deployed.

The minister reaffirmed the department’s commitment to expanding the kumki program, coupled with drone surveillance and community awareness, to sustain the downward trend in conflict and protect both agricultural livelihoods and wildlife.