Andhra Pradesh Launches ‘Project HANUMAN’ to End Human-Wildlife Conflict

Amaravathi, March 3: In a major move to safeguard both rural communities and wildlife, Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan officially launched Project HANUMAN (Healing and Nurturing Units for Monitoring, Aid and Nursing of Wildlife) today at the 6th Battalion of AP Special Police in Mangalagiri. The project, timed to coincide with World Wildlife Day, is a comprehensive initiative designed to address escalating human-wildlife encounters in districts like Chittoor, Alluri Sitarama Raju, and Parvathipuram Manyam. Speaking at the event, Pawan Kalyan described the launch as a “milestone in the history of the state forest department.”

The initiative integrates advanced technology with rapid ground-level response to create a safety net for border villages. As part of the rollout, the Deputy CM flagged off 100 GPS-enabled vehicles, including 93 Rapid Response units and 7 specialized Wildlife Ambulances. The project also introduces an AI-powered monitoring system and a dedicated mobile application to provide real-time alerts to villagers about animal movements. To strengthen rescue infrastructure, four new Wildlife Rescue and Treatment Centres are being established to provide immediate care to injured animals, while trained volunteers known as ‘Sarpa Mitras’ (Snake Friends) are being recruited at the village level.

In a significant policy shift accompanying the project, the state government has substantially increased the ex-gratia for those affected by wildlife attacks. Compensation for deaths has been raised to ₹10 lakhs, while injury compensation is set at ₹2 lakhs. Furthermore, the government has committed to settling crop damage claims based on market value within 24 hours of an incident. “The goal of HANUMAN is to turn human-wildlife conflict into responsible coexistence,” Pawan Kalyan stated, emphasizing that the project seeks to protect farmers’ livelihoods alongside the state’s biodiversity.

The strategy also includes the expansion of the Kumki elephant program, which uses trained elephants to guide wild herds away from human settlements. Additionally, the government is encouraging farmers in conflict-prone areas to shift to alternative crops that do not attract wildlife, supported by coordination between the Forest, Agriculture, and Horticulture departments. With the launch of Project HANUMAN, Andhra Pradesh aims to establish a national model for technology-driven and community-based wildlife management.