India, April 12 -- Essential to integrate conservation goals with community welfare

India, with its rich biodiversity and burgeoning human population, grapples with a significant challenge: human-animal conflict. As habitats shrink and human activities encroach upon wildlife territories, confrontations between humans and animals, mainly tigers and elephants, have escalated, posing threats to both communities.

It emerges as a major taking point in states like Kerala ahead of the Lok Sabha election. Understanding and mitigating this conflict is crucial for fostering coexistence and preserving India's natural heritage.

The complexities underlying human-animal conflict in India are manifold. With an estimated population of around 31,000 ac...