Nepali Elephants Wreak Havoc in Pilibhit; WWF Launches Awareness Drive

• Nepali elephants from Shukla Phanta Sanctuary frequently enter Pilibhit, causing significant damage to crops, property, and human lives for decades.
• Recent incidents include a border village vandalized and an elderly person killed two and a half months ago, with millions paid in crop damage compensation last year.
• Elephants use the traditional Lagga-Bhagga forest corridor, but a past system of Nepali forest staff retrieving them has diminished.
• WWF, in collaboration with Pilibhit Tiger Reserve (PTR), is implementing a human-elephant conflict management framework.
• The first phase involves experts conducting awareness campaigns and gathering suggestions from villagers in affected areas to prevent future damage.

Why It Matters: WWF and PTR launch awareness to manage escalating human-elephant conflict caused by Nepali elephants in Pilibhit.