Amaravati, Aug 2026 : Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and Forest and Environment Minister Pawan Kalyan on Sunday directed Forest Department officials to deploy drones to track the movement of wild elephants near Erravaripalem, close to Chandragiri in Tirupati district, amid concerns over crop damage and public safety.
Pawan Kalyan held a teleconference with Forest Department officials following reports that two herds of elephants from the Seshachalam forest area had been moving into agricultural fields along the forest fringes at night and damaging crops.
He instructed officials to continuously monitor the elephants’ movements, identify their routes using drones and keep residents of nearby villages regularly informed. He also stressed the need to reassure people and prevent panic while ensuring that necessary precautions are taken.
The Deputy Chief Minister directed the Forest, Revenue and Police departments to work together to minimise the risk to human life and property. He called for special night patrols in villages located close to the forest and urged officials to increase public awareness in vulnerable areas.
Residents were advised not to venture into their agricultural fields at night, particularly in areas where elephant movement has been reported. Officials were asked to issue warnings through loudspeakers, mobile messages and local information systems to ensure that people receive timely alerts.
Pawan Kalyan also directed the authorities to take proactive steps to prevent casualties and property losses. He said officials should continuously assess the situation and deploy ‘HANUMAN’ teams wherever required to safeguard local communities. Field-level Forest Department personnel were instructed to remain vigilant around the clock.
Appealing to residents to cooperate with the authorities, Pawan Kalyan urged people to remain alert and strictly follow safety instructions issued by the Forest Department.
He also assured farmers that compensation for crop losses would be provided promptly. Once officials complete their assessment and prepare reports on the damage, compensation will be released through the Forest Department, he said.
The Deputy Chief Minister had earlier highlighted the state’s efforts to manage human-elephant conflict during the national-level World Elephant Day celebrations on August 13.
Pawan Kalyan said the deployment of trained Kumki elephants to deal with wild elephants had resulted in a 70 per cent reduction in human fatalities in forest-fringe areas of Andhra Pradesh. He also said the initiative had contributed to a decline in crop damage.
With assistance from the Karnataka government, four Kumki elephants were brought to Andhra Pradesh and specially trained to help manage human-wildlife conflicts. Pawan Kalyan said the measures were producing encouraging results, particularly in the state’s agency areas.
