The Asian elephant (Elephas maximus), across its native range, is increasingly caught in the crossfire of shrinking habitats and a growing human population. Assam, one of the major strongholds of Asian elephants in the Indian subcontinent, is no exception. The state has emerged as a significant hotspot of human-elephant conflict (HEC), with both people and elephants bearing the consequences.

The intensity and frequency of HEC in Assam have been increasing, resulting in tragic losses of human lives as well as elephants. Driven by habitat loss, fragmentation, expanding human settlements and livelihoods, and increasing pressure on natural resources, the conflict reflects the growing challenges of sharing landscapes between people and wildlife.

The escalating conflict is also gradually affecting the traditional cultural reverence for elephants, potentially undermining long-term conservation efforts. The situation calls for an urgent, action-oriented conservation approach that prioritises human safety, elephant protection, habitat conservation and meaningful participation of local communities.

Despite these challenges, there is growing hope for human-elephant coexistence. Aaranyak, with the support of various government and non-government agencies, has been working relentlessly across the region for over two decades to address HEC and promote coexistence between people and elephants. Through research, community engagement, awareness, capacity building and field-based conservation interventions, these efforts aim to build safer and more sustainable landscapes for both humans and elephants.

This section presents updated information on human and elephant mortalities associated with human-elephant conflict in Assam, compiled from first-hand information gathered from the field, secondary sources including reports, and credible news articles. It seeks to highlight the scale and nature of the conflict while underscoring the urgent need for collaborative, community-centred conservation action.