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Landscape governance challenges, particularly in peri-urban contexts like the Bannerghatta National Park (BNP) region in South India, exemplify 'wicked' problems due to their inherent complexities. These challenges arise from a mix of conflicting interests, policy ambiguities, and sociocultural dynamics, which often blur the definition of problems and hinder effective solutions. Despite apparent options for resolution, stakeholder disagreements and deep uncertainties about implementation strategies complicate governance. This study, therefore, has two broad objectives. The first objective is to analyze the local discourses surrounding planned policy interventions around the BNP region in South India. Based on the findings, the second objective is to draw insights for sustainable natural resource governance research and practice. We applied Q-methodology to understand the discourses that underpin various conflicts in the rapidly urbanizing elephant corridor at BNP. We elicited information on how various local actors frame solutions to current collective action challenges in the BNP landscape and their perspectives on the proposed eco-sensitive zone notification, as well as the functioning of current policy interventions concerning conservation and development. The study uncovers the micropolitics and power regimes underpinning various natural resource governance challenges and demonstrates the utility of the Q-methodology in bringing diverse perspectives together in response to 'wicked' governance challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In India, human-elephant conflict has been on the rise for the last few decades. The situation is worse in the state of Assam, where 5719 elephants are present, and the density of elephants is greater than that of other areas. Most of the elephant habitats in the state are fragmented or intermingled with human-used lands. As a result, human-elephant conflict (HEC) has been increasing in the state. Each year, an average of 80 elephants and 70 humans die in the state because of HEC. Most of these conflicts occur during the paddy harvesting season. At that time of year, the elephants come out from their habitats and take refuge in forest patches and tea gardens near agricultural fields and raid crops at night. Different methods have been adopted to identify conflict-affected areas, but none of the studies have tried to identify all the HEC-affected areas in the state. Here, we provide a rapid appraisal approach for identifying HEC hotspots in the state by using published news information as the primary source of data. A total of 216 villages were identified as HEC-affected areas in Assam. The identified areas can be used to understand site-specific problems and for HEC mitigation practices, as these areas are currently limited to only a few areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the later sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries, the Mughal attempt at empire building in eastern India was challenged by the Pathan chieftains and the Hindu zamindars. Besides the Mughals, the Kingdom of Arakan tried to fish in troubled waters to establish a maritime presence in the littoral regions of Bay of Bengal. Pursuit of a sophisticated amphibious counterinsurgency strategy in tune with the ecological environment of the theatre of military operations enabled the Mughals to emerge victorious in the struggle for control of the Bay of Bengal's hinterland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Animals, animal labour and animal capital, were vital in developing colonial capitalism. For labour theories, working animals constituted only as tools or resources and affirmed the property rights of humans over animals by capturing, confining, breeding and training. The capitalist interactions with animals developed from the early warfare and hunting practices to the later discourses of conservation, juridical control and the commoditization of animals in the capital-intensive colonial industries. This article examines the entangled histories of wild elephants in colonial settings who were captured, tamed, and trained as working animals and sold as commodities to the capitalist timber industries. By using Jonathan Saha's conceptualization of 'undead capital', this article addresses how the wild elephants were transformed from being hunted to being protected, fed, provided for and kept healthy by veterinarians through the Kraal system only to be commoditized as working animals. However, such commoditization resulted in the subjugation of animals, the transformation of ecologies, and the fostering of new interspecies relationships between the elephants and their caretakers. The knowledge and experience of caretakers of elephants became central in colonial animal management and was perceived as a route through which colonialism created new knowledge about wild animals and the forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The western Terai Arc Landscape (wTAL) in Uttarakhand, India, marks the range limit for the Asian elephant in north‐western India. This region has been impacted by land‐use changes and infrastructure expansion for the last seven decades. To evaluate the impact of habitat deterioration on the population structure of elephants in the region, we characterized their genetic diversity and local genetic structure using mitochondrial (D loop) and nuclear DNA (microsatellites; n = 15) markers. We used tissue samples of 114 elephants from five different sub‐populations, collected between 2005 and 2014. The genetic variation was moderate (HO = 0.49–0.55) compared with other Indian elephant populations. Two mtDNA haplotypes were identified without strong spatial patterns across wTAL. Bayesian individual‐based clustering algorithm identified two genetic clusters (K = 2) with high admixture (50% at Q < 0.7) and no spatial adherence. Though K = 1 was not supported by the Bayesian algorithm, multivariate analysis and sibship patterns did not indicate genetic differentiation. The lack of spatial genetic structuring suggests high levels of gene flow, indicating that this population is still panmictic. This suggests that the life history traits of elephants as well as the ecological features of this landscape influence genetic connectivity. However, ongoing land use changes necessitate regular genetic monitoring in wTAL to identify incipient structuring caused by anthropogenic barriers to movement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plio-Pleistocene faunal complexes of the south of Eastern Europe and the formations of Upper Siwaliks of India were correlated. Proboscidean assemblages were used as a biomarker to revise evolutionary levels, first appearance, and migration patterns between the two regions. Four faunal complexes in the south of Eastern Europe and two interval-zones in the Upper Siwaliks of India have led to the framework for the first Plio-Pleistocene biostratigraphic correlation of these two regions. The work was based on two first appearances and six local and regional peak appearance events for Elephantidae. The first appearance datum of Elephantidae in Eurasia occurred during the Late Pliocene. During the Early Pleistocene, both regions show local evolution of different elephantid species, leading to a boom in their overall numbers. Evolving dental features such as total plate number, enamel thickness, lamellar frequency, hypsodonty index, etc. for last molars M3/m3 of Archidiskodon specimens from the south of Eastern Europe and Elephas specimens from the Upper Siwaliks of India were measured and compared. Dental features of Palaeoloxodon, a common genus occurring in both regions, were also compared. The morphometric results showed a faster and more consistent rate of evolution for the Elephantidae lineage from the south of Eastern Europe. The present study, along with a literature review of stratigraphic data, suggests a diachronous appearance of Elephantidae with the Indian record predating that in the south of Eastern Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Serum electrolyte monitoring is essential in the health assessment of captive elephants. The major elements of calcium, sodium, potassium, chloride and bicarbonate are playing a major role in regulation of nerve and muscle functions and in maintaining acid base and water balance. Excess levels or loss of particular electrolytes may occur as secondary changes caused by certain diseases or changes in physiological regulations. The aim of this study was to evolve the baseline reference values for serum electrolyte levels in captive Asian elephants raised in Tamil Nadu state of India. Methods: As part of the periodical health assessment blood samples were collected from auricular vein for 42 apparently healthy captive Asian elephants in Tamil Nadu, India. Serum electrolyte levels such as sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), chloride (Cl-), ionized calcium (iCa), non-ionized calcium and total calcium (tCa) were determined by using an automated electrolyte analyzer. Result: Most of the ranges of electrolyte values observed in this study were similar to that of previous reports. As not much studies on ionized calcium are available on captive Asian elephants the value of ionized calcium found this study 1.16±0.13 mmol/L could serve as reference. There was no much variation observed in various age groups. This electrolyte profile values will serve as baseline values to evaluate the health and clinical conditions of captive elephant populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the case of a pregnant elephant named Soumya who died after consuming a pineapple filled with firecrackers in India. It discusses the challenges of human-animal coexistence and the limitations of legal protection for wild elephants. The article also examines the exploitation of elephants and indigenous communities in postcolonial India, focusing on the novella "The Death of Jagamohan" by Mahasweta Devi. It argues for a non-anthropocentric approach to understanding interspecies relationships and advocates for interspecies empathy. The novella challenges dominant power structures and highlights the interconnectedness of race, caste, religion, and species. [Extracted from the article]

Mayurjharna Elephant Reserve (MER) is one of the important Elephant Reserve (ER) in southern West Bengal, India. Dense forest, natural water bodies, human habitation, agricultural land, roads and more than 100 wild elephants are present in this elephant reserve. Due to increasing human population density and changing land-use patterns incessantly the naturally dwelling place of the wild elephants has been reduced a lot. As a result of the reduced dwelling spaces, the elephants sometimes enter into the human used areas for searching their basic requirements and then the conflict is started. This conflict is a complex interaction between human and elephant and it is a burning problem not only in the MER but also in southern West Bengal. This research article is an outcome of the empirical investigation to chalk out the spatio-temporal patterns of Human—Elephant Conflict (HEC) in the MER and to yield information helpful for HEC mitigation and elephant conservation. The identified forms of HEC in the MER are elephant threat, crop raiding, property damage, injury to people, human death, elephant death, elephant injury, and livestock death. Here elephant threat is considered as indirect and the rest forms are considered as direct impact of HEC. Among them the elephant threat is counted for the highest number of incidents (60.36%), followed by crop raiding (33.58%), property damage (3.40%), human injury (0.85%), human death (0.74%), elephant death (0.43%), livestock death (0.53%) and elephant injury (0.11%). A dataset on HEC incidents (N = 941) occurred by wild elephants which were collected from the villages within this ER during the survey period (2020–2021). Here the HEC arises throughout the year, but in October (27.95%) and November (24.87%) months having the highest number of incidents. Most of the crop raiding events (51%) occur at a distance of less than 1.0 km far from the dense forest and such events were gradually decreased in respect of increasing distance from the MER. Descriptive statistics, correlation (r), One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to explain the HEC patterns of the concerned study area. Arc GIS 10.6 software was also used for the preparation of land use and land cover (LULC) map and conflict risk map through Kernel Density Estimation Model (KDEM). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

India is one of the few countries in the world that is home to a significant population of elephants. These majestic animals are an integral part of the country's culture and ecosystem. However, the population of elephants in India has been declining rapidly due to habitat loss, human-elephant conflict, poaching and other anthropogenic factors. This research paper aims to study the current population status and major hazards faced by elephants in India. The study is based on survey methods. The research findings suggest that the population of elephants in India has declined by 10% in the last decade. The major hazards faced by elephants in India include habitat loss, fragmentation, and degradation, human-elephant conflict, poaching, and electrocution. The research concludes with recommendations for the conservation of elephants in India, including habitat restoration, wildlife corridors, and mitigation measures for human-elephant conflict. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The experiment was carried out in 46 apparently health captive elephants maintained in different parts of Tamil Nadu, India during the period from August 2020 to April 2021 to assess and evolve the baseline reference values for serum biochemical parameters in captive Asian elephants raised in the Tamil Nadu state of India.As part of the periodical health assessment, blood samples were collected from auricular vein for 46 apparently healthy captive Asian elephants maintained in Tamil Nadu, India. Biochemical analyses were performed using auto biochemical analyzer using commercial kits as per the recommendations of the manufacturer. The mean±SE, lower and upper value, 95% and 99% of confidence interval of the serum biochemistry parameters comprised of glucose, total protein, albumin, globulin, cholesterol, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium, serum enzymes AST, ALT, ALP, CK, GGT and LDH were evaluated. The observed values were found to be within the normal ranges reported for the captive elephants and there were no significant differences observed between the age groups. These serum biochemical values would serve as baseline reference to evaluate the health and clinical conditions of captive elephant populations, as well as for planning health care measures in elephants of this region and adjoining areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the recent past, some cases of unpredictable movement of elephants have been reported from different parts of India, wherein the species was found moving beyond its natural ranges. Whether such abrupt movement by the elephants indicates the revival of their historic corridors or a shift in their natural ranges remains uncertain. However, some identified populations have been observed to move long distances as part of their traditional seasonal migration. Some cases of unusual sightings and dispersal of elephants beyond their ranges and in new landscapes indicate the revival of corridors and consequent capabilities of the animal to respond to the changing environment. Long-term studies are needed to verify how developmental and anthropogenic activities alter environmental niches. Moreover, in order to understand and address the issues related to the restoration of viable ecological corridors, revisiting and restructuring the conservation priorities and strategies would be paramount. This would enable the species to move long distances through the landscapes and ensure long-term survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wildlife corridors play an important role in connecting elephant habitats across India. Monitoring them is essential to assess their usage by elephants and to identify the anthropological risks to their persistence. We present the results of a gridbased survey of elephants for the Kardikkal-Madeshwara corridor in Bannerghatta National Park. Our findings indicated high use by elephants, with more observations recorded within grids which overlay natural habitats of the park than those that overlay human dominated land. The corridor remains under high human pressure, indicating the need for continued attention to maintaining corridor function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coimbatore Reserve Forest forms an integral and important part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, India. The forest areas in the Mettupalayam range and Sirumugai range of Coimbatore Forest Division were selected as study areas. It was approached in a systematic-random sampling method. Two methods viz., i) transact line survey method and ii) sample plot method, were used to document the native fodder species in the study area. Totally, 128 sample plots with the size of 20 x 20 m and 17 transact line surveys at 0.2% sampling intensity were used. Based on the survey, 25 fodder tree species were documented; Fabaceae is the most dominant family with 12 species. In diversity analysis, S IV showed higher tree fodder diversity in terms of Simpson D (0.69), Shannon H index (2.72) and evenness index (0.44). With respect to the grass density, the maximum grass density was observed in Oplismenus burmannii followed by Dichanthium aristatum and Enteropogon monostachyus which is due to geographical condition of the Coimbatore Elephant Reserve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) and tigers (Panthera tigris) share the same landscape in India. Elephants, which range over 239,171 km2, occupy 45.5% of the 433,261 km2 habitat that tigers inhabit. Equally, at least 40% of elephant corridors are used by tigers. A shared landscape offers opportunities for careful, integrated management strategies with shared resources. The species are protected differently in India, with tiger reserves being legal entities dedicated to the protection of tigers and their habitats, and Elephant Reserves being management units with no legal standing. With additional disparities in financial supports to tiger reserves—which receive 10 times more money than elephant reserves—it is obvious that the elephant reserves are being treated inequitably. Since the two species coexist in the same landscapes, efforts to protect tigers can help to make up for elephant conservation gaps and optimise the use of conservation resources by tweaking a few management and policy practices. In addition, the overlay of tigers using elephant corridors can efficiently secure habitat linkages for both species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing FDI in Africa from China and India in recent years has drawn the attention of scholars, policy makers, and the media. Africa is an arena where the two emerging giants compete on different bases. Indian firms have the advantage of institutional proximity and large diaspora communities in Africa, while Chinese firms rely on government-to-government relationship-building. The rivalry between India's soft power and Chinese hard power in Africa will continue for the foreseeable future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stone tools in association with Pleistocene elephant remains were recovered from Pampore, Kashmir, India, in 2000 from channel deposits in the Pampore Member of the Upper Karewa Group of sediments, which are interpreted as Middle Pleistocene in age. In March 2019 the elephant remains were re-examined to establish taxonomy, cause of death and evidence of human intervention, alongside study of the stone tools and age of the site. This paper reports the results of this work. Most of the elephant remains, including skull and tusks, are from a large adult, but at least two other elephants are also represented. Taxonomic analysis shows that the adult belongs to the genus Palaeoloxodon , but with a mix of features not seen in typical Palaeoloxodon skulls from the Indian Subcontinent. Pathology of the skull indicates severe sinusitis, which may have contributed to the death. No cut-marks from butchery were found on the elephant bones, although three elephant bone flakes were identified, linking human intervention with elephants at the site. The small lithic assemblage is in fresh condition with some refitting artefacts, both suggesting minimal post-depositional movement. Most of the artefacts consist of flakes, flake tools and cores, but with several points and blades suggestive of an early Mode 3 prepared core technology. This might indicate a late Middle Pleistocene age for the site. Further dating evidence using amino acid racemisation on elephant tooth enamel is ongoing, but consistent with this age. The association of stone tools with humanly-modified elephant remains is rare, while prepared core technology is currently scarce further north or east in Asia in the late Middle Pleistocene. The significance of the discovery is discussed in the wider context of Middle Pleistocene elephant-human interaction. • The Pampore elephant, Kashmir, India, from the Pampore Member of the Upper Karewa Group, dates to the Middle Pleistocene. • New investigations by an Indo-British team in 2019 attribute the elephant to Palaeoloxodon. • It is the only Middle Pleistocene elephant site from India to be found in association with an in situ lithic assemblage. • The lithic assemblage is probably attributable to a Mode 3 industry, which suggests a late Middle Pleistocene age. • Elephant bone breakage and flaking shows exploitation of the bones by humans, but no evidence of hunting or butchery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Existing studies on community-based conservation in India, while highlighting the results and effectiveness of conservation interventions fail to engage with the underlining social processes emerging from the interactions among conservation actors. This article demonstrates conservation as a social process in which the actors interact with each other daily. We use the notion of 'Everyday Conservation' to highlight that actors use their resources, skills and limitations to create a space where conservation processes are negotiated and shaped on an everyday basis. Using ethnographic work carried out in Assam (India), this article analyzes an Asian elephant conservation project to understand the various actors involved in the project, such as project managers, staff, local community, funding organization and forest department and their interactions, resulting in 'Everyday Conservation.' The inter-actor interactions were of varying intensity, depending upon which the actors negotiated, collaborated, or came into conflict, thereby producing conservation results embedded in contextual factors. We suggest that conservation needs rethinking and the framework of 'Everyday Conservation' can provide a fresh perspective on community-based wildlife conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective seed dispersal is critical for forest regeneration and recruitment as well as the restoration of degraded lands. Most tropical tree species depend on frugivorous animals to disperse their seeds; frugivore‐mediated seed dispersal is thus crucial for biodiversity conservation in megadiverse tropical systems such as India. The fauna in India are increasingly threatened due to anthropogenic interventions such as deforestation and hunting. Thus, it is imperative to have an understanding of plant–frugivore interactions across the country to curb further biodiversity loss by ensuring the maintenance of these ecological processes. In this paper, I reviewed the literature on seed dispersal by animals in India to identify important groups that disperse many plant species and/or are the only recorded dispersers of certain plant species. Hornbills, bulbuls, bears, cattle, deer, civets, elephants, macaques, nilgais, Old World fruit bats, and wild pigs meet these criteria; overall 18 species were included in this list. Six of these species are currently "Threatened" on the IUCN Red List and their loss can lead to limited dispersal for at least 86 plant species. I suggest ensuring the protection of the important seed dispersers identified in this paper, irrespective of their conservation status, to prevent further biodiversity loss. The review reveals that plant–animal interactions in India are understudied and a major knowledge gap exists with regard to seed dispersal networks within the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease of paramount importance at the wildlife-livestock-human interface. Aims: To study the occurrence and Mycobacterium (M) species involved in the TB of free-ranging and captive wild animals in various Indian states. Methods: A total of 396 clinical samples from 207 different wild animal species from various Indian national parks, zoological gardens, etc., were analyzed by lateral flow assay (LFA), Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) staining, and PCR. Clinical samples include blood (n=156), faecal swabs (n=103), serum (n=73), and nasal swabs or trunk wash fluids (n=64). Results: Clinical signs of TB were absent in 202 animals, although 21 wild animals were seropositive for pathogenic Mycobacterium antigens by LFA. Clinical signs like progressive weight loss, and respiratory distress were exhibited by 4 sloth bears (Melursus ursinus) and an elephant (Elephas maximus), which were also found positive for LFA, PCR, and ZN staining. ZN staining showed positivity for acid-fast bacilli (AFB) in 9 (8.74%) faecal and 9 (14.06%) nasal swabs or trunk wash fluids of sloth bears (7 samples) and elephants (2 samples). M. tuberculosis was detected in 7 sloth bears and 2 elephants, whereas M. bovis was found in a spotted deer (Axis axis) by speciesspecific PCR. Conclusion: The circulation of TB organisms in wild animals warrants a strict surveillance programme to identify the carrier status of these animals so that effective TB control strategies can be formulated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A vital role in mitigating human-elephant conflict (HEC) involves conservation education programs in local communities. It is therefore important to assess the types of information that make conservation education programs effective. Given the public's fascination with animal minds, the elephant being a cognitively complex species, and the high occurrence of HEC surrounding Asian elephants, the current research assessed whether using information on elephant cognition in a conservation education program increased positive attitudes toward elephants/elephant conservation in Bannerghatta National Park (BNP). BNP, located in Karnataka, India, is an area reporting high HEC. Results indicated no significant difference in adult male villagers' attitudes toward elephants/elephant conservation when exposed to one of two educational programs, one of which included information on elephant cognition. However, a significant difference in attitudes between the two programs and a control group was discovered, suggesting the importance of an educational intervention in the communities surrounding BNP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Srivilliputhur Elephant Reserve is one of India's 32 elephant reserves. It is home to wild elephants as well as other wildlife. This study aims to document the fodder plants and foraging behaviour of elephants in the Srivilliputhur Elephant Reserve. Elephants in the Srivilliputhur Elephant Reserve consumed 61 plant species from 25 different families. In the current study, the majority of the fodder plants of Asian Elephants belonged to the families of Fabaceae, Poaceae, and Malvaceae. Elephants were found to feed more frequently on trees (66%), followed by shrubs (16%), herbs (9%), and climbers (6%). It was observed that the elephants ate both the browsing tree and grazing grass species during the wet season, but browsing tree species dominated during the dry season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wildlife and natural resources constitute an integral part of the ecosystem, whereas human interventions dismantled the living conditions of the wildlife. This is testified in the Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary (DWS) where the habitats of Asian elephants have changed due to human intervention and deforestation over the decades. The present study aimed to assess the elephant habitat suitability in the DWS of Jharkhand state (India) using the geospatial parameters such as forest density, degree of slope, proximity to water bodies, land use land cover, proximity to agricultural land, built-up density, and road density. The analytical hierarchical process technique was utilized to determine habitat preference and selection of relevant factors to categorize criteria. The study revealed that about 6.7% (26.74 km 2 ) of the area is very highly suitable for elephant habitat, while 52.26% (208.49 km 2 ) of the forest area was found highly suitable. The most suitable habitat was identified in the core parts of the forest, while the least suitable areas were found in the southern part, where the presence of roads, built-up, and agricultural land was prominent. It was also observed that most human-elephant conflicts were exhibited in the low and very low suitable areas, while 90% of the elephant movement was witnessed in the high and very high suitable areas. Among the four identified corridors, three are inactive, and their location corresponds with low to very low suitable habitats. The study identified the migratory corridor routes inside the sanctuary where effective management is required for the conservation of elephant habitats and minimizing conflicts., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

Railways are an indispensable component of sustainable transportation systems, but also exact a toll on wildlife. Wild Asian elephants are often killed by trains in Assam, India, where we assess temporal variations in the occurrences of elephant-train collisions (ETCs) and casualties during 1990–2018. This study also assesses spatially varying relationships between elephant-train collision (ETC) rates and elephant and train densities in the adjoining 10 km2 grid cells of 11 prioritized railroad segments using ordinary least squares (OLS) and geographically weighted regression (GWR) models. The temporal analysis indicated that ETCs spiked at certain hours and months. The adult and calf elephant casualties on the railroads were found to be two to fivefold high during the post monsoon season compared to other seasons. During the operation period of meter gauge railroads (1990–1997), the proportions of ETCs and casualties were only 15.6% and 8.7% respectively. However, these increased substantially to 84.4% and 91.3% respectively during the operation of broad gauge railroads (1998–2018). The OLS model indicated that both elephant and train densities explained 37% of the variance of ETC rate, while GWR model showed 83% of the variance of ETC rate. The local coefficient values of GWR indicated that both the predictor variables interplayed significantly and positively to determine ETC rates in the Mariani-Nakachari and Khatkhati-Dimapur railroad segments. However, the relationship between ETC rate and elephant density is significantly negative in the Habaipur-Diphu railroad, implying that the elephant population along this railroad stretch is significantly affected by railways through large scale ETCs. Hence, there is an urgent need to address long-term mitigation strategies so that elephants can be conserved by providing safe passages and survival resources along railway lines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While growth in India stayed relatively stable over the last decade, Brazil fell into deep recession and a fundamental political and economic crisis. Why did these two countries, despite their similarities, diverge so massively within only 10 years? Through a paired comparison, this article probes two alternative approaches to capitalist diversity to explain the divergence among two rising economic powers and 'state capitalisms'. It finds that through the lens of a firm-centred supply-side approach, one largely sees institutional stability in both economies, while a focus on the demand side and respective growth models makes visible fundamental destabilization in Brazil. The fragility of domestic demand, the vulnerability of global economic integration and the erosion of key social coalitions, we contend, are key to unpack the divergence between Brazil and India. This study thereby not only sheds a new light on emerging market capitalism but also discusses further possibilities for the analysis of state capitalism within comparative political economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An attempt has been made to analyze the temporal and spatial patterns of human-elephant conflict (HEC) and mitigation measures adopted in West Bengal, a thickly populated and agrarian state of India. West Bengal supports only 2% elephant population of India but contributes to the highest human casualties due to HEC. A total of 726 human deaths, 1233 human injuries, 51,542.027 ha areas of crop loss, 34,446 hut damage, and 136 unnatural elephant deaths were reported in West Bengal during April 2010 to March 2019 due to direct HEC. Electrocution was the leading cause of unnatural elephant deaths, followed by train accidents and poaching. South Bengal witnessed maximum crop raiding by elephants. About INR 59.09 crores were compensated by the government to the victims of wild elephant depredation during the same period. Both human and elephant population is increasing and resulting in higher HEC. Natural elephant habitats become fragmented and even degraded due to rapid urbanization and human intervention. Increasing HECs not only cause a negative impact on the agro-based and forest-based household economy of rural people living in conflict prone areas of almost thirteen districts of the state, but also pose a major threat to elephant conservation. Apart from traditional short-term elephant driving practices, several long-term cost-effective and innovative mitigation measures should also be taken involving local communities and other stakeholders for proper management of natural elephant habitat, restoration of elephant corridors, protection of elephants, reduction of HEC, and sustainable development in the state of West Bengal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The socio-economic aspects of the people who directly share space with elephants not only influence the occurrence of human-elephant conflict (HEC) but also shape their sentiments towards coexistence with elephants. The objectives of this paper are to (i) assess the demographic situation and map people's sentiments towards elephants in the HEC hotspot villages of the Keonjhar forest division in India and (ii) rank the most suitable policy instruments and the urgency of mitigation strategies. The results indicated that cultivation and marginal agriculture were positively related with HEC incidences, whereas literacy and employment were negatively associated. Despite being severely affected by human–elephant conflict, many of the respondents (78%) in the HEC hotspot regions still had positive sentiments towards elephants. According to expert opinions, strengthening of laws regarding land use facilitation and interlinking conservation values to socio-cultural aspects need urgent implementation in order to balance infrastructural development and protection of ecosystems by enhancing community participation. Communal crop guarding, chilly-dung and honeybee fencing, accompanied by tracking and maintaining an elephant locational database are suggested as the HEC mitigation methods with highest urgency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Animal conservation is imperative, and technology can certainly assist in different ways. The extinction of endangered species like tigers and elephants has boosted the necessity for such efforts. Human–elephant collision (HEC) has been an active area of research for years. Apart from deforestation, the roads and rail tracks laid down through forest areas intervene a lot in wildlife. Collisions and tragedies are every day, especially in green belts in India and other Asian countries. Therefore, it is crucial to develop vision-based, automated, warning-generating systems to identify the animal/elephant near-site. In the proposed work, different deep learning-based models are proposed to identify elephants in image/video. Several convolutional neural network (CNN)-based models and three transfer learning (TL)-based models, i.e., ResNet50, MobileNet, Inception V3, have been experimented with and tuned for elephant detection. All the models are tested on a synthesized dataset having about 4200 images built using two public datasets, i.e., ELPephant and RailSem19. Two accurate CNN and transfer learning-based models are presented in detail. These highly accurate and precise models can alarm the trains and generate warning signals on site. The proposed CNN and inception network demonstrated high accuracy of 99.53% and 99.91%, respectively, and are remarkable in identifying elephants and hence preventing HEC. The same model can be trained for other animals for their preservation in similar scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was envisaged with an aim to evaluate the sero-positivity of Trypanosoma evansi antibodies in Indian elephants by using card agglutination test for trypanosomes (CATT/ T. evansi) and to assess haemato-biochemical alterations in positive cases. The blood samples were collected from ear veins of elephants (n = 12), kept at Mahendra Chaudhury Zoological Park, Chhatbir, Punjab. Agglutination patterns were scored as − (negative) and +, ++ or +++ (positive). One sample from female elephant was found strongly positive with +++ agglutination pattern, whereas one sample of male elephant was observed slightly positive (+). Significant hyperproteinaemia (p < 0.01), hyperglobulinemia (p < 0.05), leucocytosis (p < 0.05), and hyponatremia (p < 0.01) were amongst the haemato-biochemical alterations observed in sero-positive individuals. Molecular confirmation of T. evansi was also performed using polymerase chain reaction targeting VSG (RoTat 1.2) gene. The present study highlights the first record of card agglutination-based assessment of T. evansi in captive wild animals in India and also promulgates the haemato-biochemical responses in T. evansi sero-positive elephants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Management of wildlife depends mostly on scientific data; ignoring this can lead to unintended consequences. We take the case study of the wild male Asian Elephant Rivaldo of the Sigur Region, who was translocated out of his range. Rivaldo returned to his home range within a few days, which could have been expected if scientific publications had been consulted. We suggest that a simple checklist of relevant publications can help park managers to decide on a proper management procedure. We also used a simple Bayesian framework to visually show how the probability of predicting a management outcome is increased by prior knowledge. The expensive and risky effort to relocate the elephant could have been avoided altogether if prior knowledge had been taken into consideration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diversified landscape functions have deep connection with habitat preference of elephant in several elephant habitats including Mayurjharna Elephant Reserve (MER). The main objective of the present study was to find out the elephant habitat suitability zone or areas considering geo-spatial components of landscape. For that reason, the study taken landuse factors, i.e. forest cover, forest core, forest fragmentation, forest edge, built-up area, agricultural land and road pattern, to fulfil the objective of the study. The selected landuse factors were separated from a classified landuse landcover (LULC) map of 2018 and intersected in a grid framework. From these grids, information factor density maps were prepared in ArcGIS 10.3 version software. Each factor has specific and different significance on habitat preference. After that, factors of significant level or percentage-wise ranks were calculated using analytical hierarchy process (AHP) on the basis of their ecological function. Chosen factors were categorized and placed according to their significant percentage in Weighted Overlay tool in ArcGIS 10.3 software for getting the final outcome. After the analysis, it was found that 87.18 sq.km areas out of total area in MER are very suitable for elephant habitat. Reasonably suitable areas are 306.74 sq.km and 228.27 sq.km areas, which are very less suitable for elephants in this reserve. 147.66 sq.km areas in MER are not suitable for elephant where basic habitat requirements are very insufficient. The well suitable areas are mostly covered with the high-density forest and large forest core areas in this reserve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In colonial India, the elephant was embraced by the British as a military asset, as well as for the symbolic value it held as an insignia of royal power, drawing upon a body of cultural practices sustained by the ruling elite. At the same time, the circulation of elephants along imperial circuits as they began to be traded and exhibited in menageries and traveling circuses brought them into a different exhibitionary order, that nevertheless kept alive an element of Oriental pageantry. Ubiquitous in colonial imagery of nineteenth century India, the elephant also featured prominently in parables of vision such as the widely circulated folktale of the 'blind men and the elephant' or the phrase 'seeing the elephant', which acquired traction in the mid-nineteenth century, as a sight worth beholding. This paper explores the visual consumption of the elephant in an economy where it was exhibited to be seen, and the spectacle of the animal, both dead and alive predominated. It identifies a repertoire of visual practices fashioned around 'elephant seeing' that negotiated attitudes to the animal world and spoke to an imperial subject who saw in the animal, a representation of the colonial world and its resources serve at its disposal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present work is to determine the activity concentrations of natural radionuclides and the associated radiation hazards in soils of Elephant hills, Tamil Nadu, India using gamma-ray spectrometry. The average activity concentrations of 238U, 232Th and 40K are 52, 48, and 840 Bq kg−1respectively. The average dose rate of 89 nGy h−1 is nearly 1.5 times higher than the outdoor world average, but the average annual effective dose equivalent (AEDE) is less than the recommended limit of unity. Pearson correlation analysis indicates that 40K does not contribute to radioactivity in these soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Raj has always been a fascinating study for the West. East was that mystical land of snake charmers and tight rope walkers, of bejeweled Maharajas riding on elephants and naked fakirs performing their rope tricks. It has been debated that the Orient was romanticized for the West's own interests—to lure the West to the East, to make postings to India more palatable, to find charm in an alien culture and civilization. The present article aims to explore how writings on the royal kitchen have added to the image of the exotic Orient and inspired interest both in India and in the Indian cuisine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human-elephant conflicts (HEC) have become an ever-increasing threat to wildlife management in recent years around the world. In India, West Bengal has been one of the worst sufferers of these conflicts. With 2.89 % of the entire elephant population in India, the state records a high mortality rate, both human and pachyderm every year. Although several mitigation techniques, traditional as well as modern, have been used for many years, however, the conflict cases have not shown any steady decline. It seems that the measures practiced in the region focus on short-term alleviation rather than a long-lasting solution ensuring peaceful coexistence of the two species. The study discusses the mitigation and preventive measures of human-elephant conflicts practiced in the state, their efficacy and shortcomings. The study revealed a single “universal model” is not successful to mitigate the concerns; rather a combination of measures is required. An amalgamation of traditional and modern techniques is also suggested. An efficacious operative mitigation plan should be sitespecific and based on several local factors including conflict, physiographical, habitat, anthropogenic and other such variables. Thus, a hypothetical model for designing an effective mitigation strategy has been proposed for future researchers and competent authorities to look into. This could be helpful for policy makers to plan effective management practices not only in the region but also elsewhere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examined data on elephant mortality from the year 2001 to 2018. Elephant deaths greatly increased over the last eight years. From 2001–2018, 1061 elephants died in 943 incidents with an average of 58.94% deaths per year. Elephant deaths peaked in winter and mostly occurred outside protected areas in human dominated landscapes. Disease was the major cause of death, followed by accidents and unknown reasons. The highest mortality was in the age class 21–40 years while 58.15% of deaths were of individuals less than 20 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Tuberculosis is a highly contagious zoonotic disease caused by Mycobacterium spp. A study was conducted to detect the presence of Mycobacterium in captive elephants. A total of 15 captive elephants were screened from various regions in Maharashtra. The blood and serum samples collected were subjected to rapid test kit, BacT/ALERT 3D system, Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) staining and PCR. All the samples were found seronegative using rapid test kit and whole blood PCR. Whereas, all samples were signalled culture positive in BacT/ ALERT 3D system which were further subjected to PCR, only one amplicon was produced of 176bp of RD4 gene (Mycobacterium bovis) and no acid-fast organism was detected upon ZN. Due to the atypical nature of this organism, diagnosis of this disease in elephants using various tests is complicated unlike the diagnostic tests that are validated in domestic animals. Therefore, many tests have sub-optimal sensitivity and specificity in elephants. As TB is a zoonotic disease, transmission can occur between human-livestock-elephants interface. Therefore, the zoos and state forest authority should inculcate a protocol of periodic TB screening for Mahouts and elephants in captivity along with protocol of elephant-visitor interaction, thus helping in conservation of this endangered species in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To assess the corridor's functionality and prioritize protection of one of the corridors connecting Kaziranga National Park and the forests of Karbi Anglong District in Assam, India, we conducted a camera-trap study from 2011 to 2016. A total of 10,895 trap nights revealed 39 mammal and avian species, several of which were new records for the area. Relative Abundance Index was calculated as a measure of photo-capture rates from the photographic events, and annual trend for selected species and seasonal trend for elephants were analyzed. The indices showed that elephants used the corridor patch most frequently (RAI = 8.81), followed by hog deer (RAI = 2.77), while hog badgers were most rarely recorded (RAI = 0.02). Seasonality of the movement pattern of elephants showed increased use during the monsoon season. Records of nine individual tigers and six individual leopards, along with other rare and endangered species indicate functionality and regular use of the critical corridor by wildlife, crossing over between Kaziranga and Karbi Anglong hills, maneuvering through the busy National Highway—37 that cuts across the historically connected landscape. The results obtained from the study can be used to prepare a conservation action strategy to secure the corridor for safe passage of wildlife. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For decades, wildlife has been observed getting entangled in and affected by plastic litter. Despite the increasing annual accumulation of plastic waste in the Indian environment and its potential threat to marine biodiversity, the specific impacts of this litter often go unmeasured in India. Based on a search of social media (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Google), we evaluated the negative impacts of abandoned, lost or otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) on Indian biodiversity. Among the cases posted detailing interaction with anthropogenic litter, 35 species were affected with 144 individuals reported. Of the species entangled in this study, 13 are listed as vulnerable, endangered or critically endangered according to the IUCN. Sea turtles, fish and marine mammals were the most reported groups entangled in ALDFG. We also identified birds, land mammals (the Asian elephant), reptiles and invertebrates (crustaceans and sponges). These findings reveal that the majority of entangling litter impacting animals in India is from fishing activity. Five types of materials (fishing nets, rope, monofilament lines, trap and fish hook) accounted for the most (98 %) of entanglements. This study shows that ALDFG are not only a problem for marine species, but also for freshwater species. The presence of ALDFG in aquatic and marine environments contributes to the extinction risk of wildlife in India, which are already threatened by other human activities. There is therefore an urgent necessity to continue building management programs and develop government policies which attempt to protect the aquatic environment from ALDFG. • ALDFG is a major threat to Indian wildlife. • A total of 35 animals are documented to have interacted with the ghost gear. • These included cases of entanglement of 13 endangered species. • Sea turtles and marine mammals are more affected by entanglements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Megasthenes was an eyewitness to the reign of Chandragupta Maurya, maker of the first India-wide empire (from ca. 321 BCE). The army with which he made that empire depended largely upon the supply of men, horses, elephants, and oxen, a sector which may be called military livestock. Megasthenes' account of this large sector of government expense and the policies under which it operated gives important testimony about the causes of Chandragupta's success, namely the maintenance of a royal monopoly of horses, elephants, and arms, payment of the soldiers in peacetime and war, the demilitarization of the farmers, and the separation of the soldiers from the land. Over the long run of Indian history, from the Mauryan Empire to the present, the environmental roots of the political order lay in the complementary distribution of horse and elephant country, to the dry west and humid east of a line running down the middle of the Subcontinent; that is, respectively, the valleys of the Indus and the Ganga. The dominating power of India has always had its capital in elephant country, the valley of the Ganga, in cities from Pataliputra (Patna) to Kanauj to Delhi, in a position from which to control the eastward flow of horses and the westward flow of elephants to other states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A field experiment was conducted during 2015–18 to study the effect of integrated use of lime, inorganic and organic manures on soil health and yield performance of elephant foot yam (Amorphophallus paenifolius L) – black gram (Vigna mungo L) system in an acid Alfisol of Eastern India. Significantly highest mean corm yield of elephant foot yam (22.72 t ha−1), grain and haulm yields of black gram (7.33 and 23.87 q ha−1, respectively) were recorded due to integrated application of lime + FYM + ½ NPK + MgSO4. Graded doses of NPK showed a corm yield response of 29, 70 and 105% in elephant foot yam due to addition of 50, 100, and 150% of NPK over control, respectively. Among the organic sources, incorporation of vermicompost showed the highest corm yield (13.92 t ha−1) with a yield response of 46% over control at par with neem cake (13.60 t ha−1). The bio-chemical constituents in the corms of elephant foot yam were found highest due to integrated use of lime + FYM + ½ NPK + Borax. The soil fungi and actinomycetes were dominant in the soils and are involved in nutrient transformations. Highest dehydrogenase activity (0.521 µg TPF hr−1 g−1), fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis assay (0.709 µg TPF hr−1 g−1), and urease activity (142 µg NH4-N g−1 hr−1) were observed due to integrated application of lime + FYM + ½ NPK + MgSO4. Integrated application of lime, organic manure and half of the recommended doses of NPK in combination with secondary/micro nutrients not only sustains the soil quality but also enhanced the productivity of elephant foot yam – black gram cropping system in Alfisols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a correction notice for an article titled "Serodiagnosis of Tuberculosis in Asian Elephants (Elephas maximus) in Southern India: A Latent Class Analysis." The correction addresses an issue with the ponceau loading control panels in Figure 1F and 1L, which appear more similar than expected. The original uncropped images are no longer available, but replicate data is provided. The authors also provide an updated version of Figure 1 with replicate image data and original uncropped images for Western blotting and ponceau staining. The raw data for Figure 1G and the summary results in Tables 1-3 are no longer available, but the original underlying data for all other results in the article and supporting information files are available. The authors apologize for the error. [Extracted from the article]

Human-elephant conflict is not a new issue in the state of Karnataka, India. Primary conflict involves loss of lives on both sides, loss of property and damage to crops. Solar fencing is considered to be the most effective way to mitigate the conflict between humans and elephants. An assessment on the effectiveness of solar-powered fencing was carried out in Manchahalli village, which is located adjacent to Bandipur National Park (BNP), Karnataka and is prone to frequent raids by elephants. Hence, this area was chosen as the study site. Field survey was conducted between March and April 2019, to estimate whether the installation of solar fencing had reduced the damage caused by elephants on the crops. During the survey, questions related to the following factors were considered: area of land owned by farmers, distance from the forest boundary to the croplands, types of crops grown, types of crops damaged, year of installation of solar fence, damage caused to the solar fence, methods used before the installation of solar fencing and the perceived effectiveness of the solar fence. Among the 30 croplands that were surveyed, majority were at less than 2 km from the forest, followed by others ranging between 1 and 1.5 km. Although solar fencing was not helpful in reducing the raids completely, it proved to be more effective than any other conventional method previously used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Barnadi Wildlife Sanctuary in Assam is a protected forest area and a lot of such human interactions with the wildlife sanctuary have been observed from which the locals have been benefited greatly. This, in turn, has led to a strong emotional bond among them and the wildlife sanctuary as a whole. Apart from this, concern regarding the human-animal conflicts particularly in case of elephants, which due to its high population in the area sometimes cause huge loss to life and property of the local people. In this chapter, the interactions, the effect on the overall economic aspect of the local areas near the sanctuary, the growth of eco-tourism sector, the role of government and the forest department in maintaining a harmonious interaction between the locals and the sanctuary has been discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The following paper proposes the furtherance of a rational choice explanation for the caste system. Using ethnographic and qualitative evidence on the history of institutional changes in the caste structure of India, I show that caste has been used in India by invaders and power-vying local rulers as a way to systematically exert administrative, political, and economic control over a populace. I also use instances of caste in other parts of the world throughout time as well as how caste has changed since a ban on discrimination based on caste three years after the end of British occupation over India to provide further evidence. While I do not make claims that my theory is mono-causal, I make the much milder claim that it has worked in tandem with other theories of the origins, continuance, and structure of caste systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identifying suitable habitats and conserving corridors are crucial to the long-term conservation of large and conflict-prone animals. Being a flagship species, survival of Asian elephants is threatened by human-induced mortality and habitat modification. We aimed to assess the habitat suitability and connectivity of the Asian elephant Elephas maximus Linnaeus, 1758 habitat in the state of Odisha in eastern India. We followed the ensemble of spatial prediction models using species presence data and five environmental variables. We used least-cost path and circuit theory approaches to identify the spatial connectivity between core habitats for Asian elephants. The results revealed that normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI; variable importance 42%) and terrain ruggedness (19%) are the most influential variables for predicting habitat suitability of species within the study area. Our habitat suitability map estimated 14.6% of Odisha's geographical area (c. 22,442 km 2 ) as highly suitable and 13.3% (c. 20,464 km 2 ) as moderate highly suitable. We identified 58 potential linkages to maintain the habitat connectivity across study area. Furthermore, we identified pinch points, bottlenecks, and high centrality links between core habitats. Our study offers management implications for long-term landscape conservation for Asian elephants in Odisha and highlights priority zones that can help maintain spatial links between elephant habitats., Competing Interests: Himanshu Shekhar Palei is a volunteer Research Associate at the Aranya Foundation. The authors declare there are no competing interests., (©2024 Palei et al.)

The present study aimed to assess the population status, breeding ecology, and conservation threats of Critically Endangered White-rumped Vulture in Sigur Plateau, Tamil Nadu, India from June 2011 to May 2012. The population of White-rumped vulture was estimated in the roosting and nesting sites twice in a month. Nesting colonies were systematically visited four times in a month during the breeding season to study nesting and breeding ecology. Carcasses and vulture counting was done by opportunistic count method. Two sets of questionnaires namely 'precise and closed' and 'broad and open-ended' were developed to asses the people's perception on vulture conservation. The overall population of White-rumped Vultures was estimated about 70 to 115 individuals. In total, 68 nests were observed in two nesting colonies. Most of the nests (97%) were recorded on Terminalia arjuna and only 3% on Spondias mangifera. Among the 68 constructed nests, 34 were incubated and 30 chicks were fledged out from the nests with 88% breeding success. Feeding behavior was observed from 28 carcasses, Vultures were attended only 15 caracasses an average of 56.04±3.29 individuals of vultures were recorded. Interestingly, Elephant (61.8±5.1) and Indian Gaur (58.5±0.3) carcasses were attracted in greater numbers of vultures in susiquent days (3.5±0.2) than other carcasses. People's attitude to vulture conservation was positive and useful in 90.82% of the cases (n=99). Cattle carcass disposal method favored to vultures in these regions. The Sigur Plateau to be declared as "Vulture Sanctuary" in order to legally protect and conserve the country's southern-most wild and viable Critically Endangered White-rumped Vulture population in the landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A camera trapping survey to estimate the species richness and relative abundance of different mammalian fauna and various anthropogenic activities was carried out for four months within an urban influenced zone of Chandaka-Dampara Wildlife Sanctuary, Odisha. The survey extended over 120 days in January-April 2019 over 10% of the total sanctuary area. With nine cameras and a total effort of 771 trap days, 2,855 independent photographs including 14 species of wild mammals and birds, human traffic, and movement of stray animals were captured. Among the mammalian fauna, Golden Jackal was the most photographed species whereas the Asian Elephant, Striped Hyaena, and Common Palm Civet were the least photographed species. Various anthropogenic activities like intensive movement of departmental vehicles, staff, feral livestock, and stray dogs and cats were also recorded and these activities need to be addressed in management activities for long term conservation of the area and its mammalian fauna. In order to enhance biological connectivity and improve movement of wildlife between the main part of the Chandaka Sanctuary and its near-detached reserved forests in Jagannathprasad-Bharatpur, the study recommends removal of feral cattle, extensive plantations, and construction of a fly-over for vehicular traffic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]