World · India Bureau
Pawan Kalyan deploys elephant task force as herd enters Chittoor district
Andhra Pradesh's Deputy Chief Minister has ordered continuous surveillance of a wild elephant herd moving through Chittoor district, with trained kumkis positioned to guide the animals away from populated areas. The move comes as authorities issue notices to aquaculture units in the region.
LSN India ·

Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan has directed forest officials to maintain round-the-clock monitoring of an elephant herd traversing Chittoor district, utilizing specialized HANUMAN response teams to track the animals' movements. The intervention aims to prevent potential human-wildlife conflict as the elephants move through the region.
Authorized kumki elephants have been deployed strategically to herd the wild animals back into forest areas and away from human settlements. HANUMAN teams, equipped for rapid response to wildlife incidents, will coordinate surveillance operations to ensure the safety of both the elephant population and local residents.
In a related action, authorities have issued notices to approximately ten aquaculture units operating in the district. The notices appear connected to the broader wildlife management initiative in the region, though specific compliance requirements were not detailed.
The deployment represents efforts to manage increasing elephant-human encounters in Andhra Pradesh's eastern districts, where wildlife habitat pressures have driven herds into closer proximity with agricultural and residential areas. Forest department officials are expected to continue operations until the herd has been successfully moved to safer zones.