Main Menu

Wildlife
- Close
- - We protect wildlife in Britain and around the world by bringing our most threatened species back from the brink of extinction. We do this through ground-breaking research, practical conservation and education, all with the help of our supporters.
Wild places
- Close
- - Some habitats contain such a richness of life that we need to protect them at all odds. We are working to preserve ancient woodlands, orchards and wood pastures and parklands, as well as the countless species they support.
What we do
- Close
- - Everything we do is based on scientific evidence. We gather this through surveys, which you can take part in, and by awarding research grants to the most inspiring scientists worldwide. This evidence guides our conservation efforts and is shared through our events and publications.
Who we are
- Close
- - People’s Trust for Endangered Species was set up in 1977 to save our wildlife. We are governed by a board of volunteer trustees and our team of staff are passionate about protecting endangered species and places.
Success stories
- Close
- - We strive to bring our most threatened species in the UK and around the world back from the brink of extinction. Our successes come from ground-breaking research, practical conservation and education, all with the help of our supporters.
Get involved
- Close
- - There are so many ways you can help save endangered species. Fancy taking part in a survey, joining us on a wildlife event or becoming a regular supporter?
Shop
- Close
- - Support our work in our shop with a range of charity gifts, home-ware, cards and more. 100% of the profits go directly to help wildlife both in the UK an overseas.
Donate
- Close
- - There is nothing natural about the alarming rate at which we are losing animals and their homes. It is absolutely avoidable. We can stop the loss of our wildlife – but we need your support. You can act now by choosing to give to our cause. Thank you.

Basket Search

Donate

PTES News Basket Search

Wildlife
- Close
- - We protect wildlife in Britain and around the world by bringing our most threatened species back from the brink of extinction. We do this through ground-breaking research, practical conservation and education, all with the help of our supporters.
Wild places
- Close
- - Some habitats contain such a richness of life that we need to protect them at all odds. We are working to preserve ancient woodlands, orchards and wood pastures and parklands, as well as the countless species they support.
What we do
- Close
- - Everything we do is based on scientific evidence. We gather this through surveys, which you can take part in, and by awarding research grants to the most inspiring scientists worldwide. This evidence guides our conservation efforts and is shared through our events and publications.
Who we are
- Close
- - People’s Trust for Endangered Species was set up in 1977 to save our wildlife. We are governed by a board of volunteer trustees and our team of staff are passionate about protecting endangered species and places.
Success stories
- Close
- - We strive to bring our most threatened species in the UK and around the world back from the brink of extinction. Our successes come from ground-breaking research, practical conservation and education, all with the help of our supporters.
Get involved
- Close
- - There are so many ways you can help save endangered species. Fancy taking part in a survey, joining us on a wildlife event or becoming a regular supporter?
Shop
- Close
- - Support our work in our shop with a range of charity gifts, home-ware, cards and more. 100% of the profits go directly to help wildlife both in the UK an overseas.
Donate
- Close
- - There is nothing natural about the alarming rate at which we are losing animals and their homes. It is absolutely avoidable. We can stop the loss of our wildlife – but we need your support. You can act now by choosing to give to our cause. Thank you.

Home // Research grants // Our worldwide projects // Asian elephants in a human dominated landscape

Asian elephants in a human dominated landscape

Right of Passage: Mitigating human-elephant hostility and creating a secure migratory corridor for elephants in West Bengal, India.

In last 5 years the elephant population increased in South West Bengal by 61%. This has, therefore, extended their home range in a human dominated landscape. These elephants are part of Eastern India population and are facing a high level of conflict in human-dominated landscape. It is very much essential to restore the degraded habitat and secure the existing corridors for free passage as this is the only elephant reserve for the Eastern India.

The Problem

At the project site, the ‘Mayurjharna Elephant Reserve’, elephant numbers are booming. Unfortunately as numbers of our largest animal increases so does the level of conflict with people living in the region. The elephants need more space, so they have extended their home range into the neighbouring human-dominated landscape. These elephants are sub-divided into several smaller groups which makes managing the situation, ‘Human Elephant Conflict’, even more challenging.

The elephants’ habitat in this region is highly fragmented. It consists of a mosaic of forest patches, villages and agricultural fields with several physical barriers created by villagers or forest department which puts this long-ranging species in high-stress conditions and accelerates ‘conflict’. Tragically the conflicts sometimes result in the death of elephants. Elephants have been killed by electrocution, poison or accidentally.

The Solution

Samya Bassu is leading a dedicated team who will work with the people living in villages within the elephants’ migration corridor to mitigate conflict, plan which areas of forest need restoration, and put in place conflict mitigation measures to secure the safe passage to elephants.

The most vital part of the project is a year-long Conservation Education and Community Capacity Building programme. Only by working with people, listening to them and working with them, can we reduce the retaliatory killing of elephants. the aim of the project is to bring about change in the community’s attitude and adoption of the suggested conflict mitigation measures, leading to secure passages for our migrating elephants.