Pawan Kalyan orders watch on elephant herd in Chittoor, kumkis to drive it back; 10 aqua units get notices

Pawan Kalyan, the popular actor‑turned‑politician and leader of the Jana Sena Party, has appealed to state authorities to institute round‑the‑clock surveillance of an elephant herd that has been roaming near the town of Chittoor in Andhra Pradesh. In a statement released on Thursday, he urged the deployment of the newly formed HANU​MAN (Human‑Animal Nexus Monitoring and Navigation) teams to track the herd’s movements, citing recent incidents of crop damage and the potential for human‑elephant conflict. Kalyan highlighted that the herd, consisting of more than fifty individuals, has been increasingly venturing into agricultural fields, prompting fear among local farmers and prompting a need for systematic observation..

The call for constant monitoring follows a series of sightings over the past month that have seen the herd stray into villages surrounding the Kuppam and Palamaneru mandals. According to district officials, the animals have crossed several national highways, causing traffic snarls and raising safety concerns for commuters. Kalyan’s demand for a dedicated monitoring mechanism comes at a time when the state government is already grappling with a rise in human‑elephant encounters across the Eastern Ghats, a region that serves as a vital corridor for wildlife migration between protected reserves..

In response to the actor‑politician’s appeal, the Andhra Pradesh Forest Department announced the activation of ten specialised “aqua units” equipped with infrared cameras, drones and GPS trackers. These units, traditionally used for coastal surveillance, have been repurposed to cover the forested terrain of Chittoor district. Officials said each unit would operate on a rotating 24‑hour schedule, transmitting real‑time data to a central command centre in Vijayawada, enabling rapid deployment of response teams should the herd approach cultivated land or populated areas..

The deployment of the aqua units has sparked a debate among conservationists, who argue that technology alone cannot resolve the underlying causes of elephant displacement. Ramesh, a wildlife biologist at the University of Hyderabad, warned that habitat fragmentation due to expanding agriculture and infrastructure projects is forcing the herd to seek new feeding grounds. He called for a holistic approach that combines monitoring with the restoration of forest corridors, compensation for crop losses and community awareness programmes to mitigate the risk of retaliation against the animals..

Local farmers, however, have expressed relief at the prospect of heightened surveillance. “We have lost several tonnes of paddy and millets in the last few weeks,” said Raghavendra, a cultivator from Kothapalli village. “If the authorities can keep an eye on the elephants and warn us early, we can protect our fields and avoid the loss of livelihood.” He added that the presence of HANU​MAN teams on the ground would provide a human interface to communicate alerts and coordinate rapid response measures, such as non‑lethal deterrents..

The HANU​MAN teams, as outlined by the forest department, will comprise forest rangers, local volunteers and trained wildlife handlers equipped with portable radio repeaters and night‑vision gear. Their mandate includes not only tracking the herd’s route but also implementing “kumkis” – low‑frequency acoustic devices designed to gently steer the animals away from human settlements without causing distress. The term, derived from a traditional Indian folk instrument, has been adopted by wildlife managers as an environmentally friendly alternative to more invasive methods..

While the use of kumkis has been praised for its humane approach, some experts caution that its efficacy varies depending on the herd’s size and the surrounding landscape. A recent study by the Wildlife Institute of India found that acoustic deterrents work best when combined with physical barriers, such as electric fences, and when deployed well in advance of the animals’ arrival. The forest department has therefore announced plans to install a network of solar‑powered fences along the most vulnerable stretches of the forest edge, supplementing the auditory cues provided by the kumkis..

The political dimension of the issue cannot be ignored. Pawan Kalyan’s intervention comes ahead of the upcoming state elections, where wildlife conservation and farmer welfare have emerged as pivotal campaign themes. Critics allege that the Jana Sena Party is leveraging the elephant crisis to garner rural support, while supporters argue that the actor‑politician’s genuine concern for both human and animal safety is commendable..

The state government, led by Chief Minister Y. Jagan Mohan Reddy, has pledged to increase funding for wildlife management, signalling a potential alignment of political will with conservation objectives. In the broader context, the Chittoor elephant movement reflects a nationwide trend of increasing human‑wildlife interfaces..

According to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, India recorded over 350 incidents of human‑elephant conflict in 2023, a figure that has risen sharply over the past decade. Rapid urbanisation, road expansions and the conversion of forest land for agriculture have all contributed to shrinking habitats, compelling elephants to navigate through human‑dominated landscapes in search of food and water. The implementation of the ten aqua units, alongside the HANU​MAN teams and kumki deployment, will be closely monitored over the next six months to assess impact..

Preliminary metrics include the number of elephant sightings, incidents of crop damage, and any reported injuries to humans or animals. Data collected will be shared with national wildlife agencies and could inform future policy decisions on the use of technology in conflict mitigation across the country. Community outreach programmes are also slated to begin next week, with forest officials organising workshops in villages near the migration route..

These sessions aim to educate residents on safe practices, such as avoiding direct confrontation, using noise makers to alert elephants, and reporting sightings promptly to the command centre. By fostering a cooperative relationship between locals and wildlife managers.