Elephant in my backyard!
Tue, 04 Feb
|Department of Wildlife & Management
Dr. Thammaiah C.K. is an alumnus of the Department of Wildlife & Management (2010–2012) and later pursued his PhD in the same department under the esteemed guidance of Prof. Vijaya Kumara.
Time & Location
04 Feb 2025, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Department of Wildlife & Management, Kuvempu University Jnanasahyadri Shankaraghatta- 577451. Shimoga Dist, Malligenahalli, Karnataka 577451, India
About the event
Dr. Thammaiah C.K. is an active researcher in the field of wildlife conservation whose work specifically addresses the challenges of human–elephant conflict in modified landscapes. In his seminar on February 4, he presented findings from his studies conducted in coffee agroforestry regions of Kodagu District, Karnataka.
His research—conducted under the guidance of Prof.Vijaya Kumara—identifies “elephant conservation hotspots” in these agroforestry systems. The studies reveal that the rapid expansion of coffee cultivation and the resulting habitat fragmentation force elephants into closer contact with human settlements. This leads to frequent incidents of crop-raiding and other conflicts. Dr. Thammaiah’s work emphasizes the importance of understanding elephant ranging patterns and habitat use in such landscapes to develop effective mitigation strategies.
During the seminar, he highlighted adaptive management measures such as:
Preserving and restoring natural corridors to maintain connectivity between elephant habitats.
Adopting sustainable farming practices that reduce the attractiveness of agricultural crops to elephants.
Enhancing community engagement and developing policy interventions that support both local livelihoods and elephant conservation.
Overall, his talk provided a comprehensive look at how integrated, science-based approaches can help reduce human–elephant conflict while promoting coexistence in human-dominated landscapes.
