📋 Tender Overview
Activity Id:
62627
Project Number:
F22AP00117
Implementing Partner:
Centre For Wildlife Studies
Activity Start Date:
N/A
Activity End Date:
2026-12-31
Country:
India
Country Code:
IN
Region:
South and Central Asia
Funding Agency:
Department of the Interior
Managing Agency:
Department of the Interior
Fiscal Year:
2022
Current Dollar Amount:
$146,911
International Sector:
General Environmental Protection
USG Sector:
Natural Resources and Biodiversity
Description:
The goal of this project is to initiate a long-term elephant monitoring program in a human-dominated area of the greater Nilgiris-Eastern Ghats Elephant Landscape, specifically to assess wild Asian elephant populations, movement, habitat use, and patterns of human-elephant conflict (HEC) in Tamil Nadu and Kerala, India. Specific objectives are to: (1) better understand the elephant populations of the Southern Nilgiris landscape; (2) assess spatiotemporal patterns and local communities attitudes and tolerance of HEC; (3) ascertain the drivers of HEC in the landscape; and (4) test and establish elephant detection systems. Project activities are to: (1) conduct a landscape-level elephant sign survey to assess seasonal distribution and habitat use; (2) undertake camera trap surveys to assess population structure; (3) conduct a ground-based assessment of property damage, crop loss, injury, and deaths related to HEC; (4) conduct household surveys to assess attitudes and direct and indirect impacts of HEC and mitigation measures; (5) map all HEC mitigations currently used in the landscape, including investment and maintenance costs; (6) assess the efficacy of HEC mitigation measures by measuring the results of various interventions; (7) conduct dung-based hormone analysis to measure the nutritional stress of elephants; (8) assess and map threats and anthropogenic disturbances to elephant habitat; (9) trial a prototype acoustic-based elephant detection device; (10) deploy the acoustic-detection system in the field; (11) dissemination of results to government officials, policy makers, and social media platforms; (12) community outreach including workshops and focus groups in high-conflict villages; and (13) recommendation of site-specific HEC mitigation measures.
