‘Project Hanuman’ Flagged Off by Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan

Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan on Tuesday inaugurated the Hanuman Project in Mangalagiri, marking Wildlife Conservation Day with a major initiative aimed at reducing human–wildlife conflict across the state.

The programme focuses on forest-bordering villages that have witnessed a surge in incidents involving elephants and other wild animals, leading to crop damage , livestock loss and risks to human life. Districts such as Chittoor , Srikakulam , and Parvathipuram Manyam have been identified as particularly vulnerable.

Under the project, 100 GPS-enabled vehicles including 93 rapid response units and seven wildlife ambulances have been deployed to ensure immediate field action. Four Wildlife Rescue and Treatment Centres have been established at Visakhapatnam , Rajamahendravaram , Tirupati , and Bairluty, backed by 19 specialised response teams.

Each response unit includes forest officials, veterinary professionals and trained support staff. Village-level “Wildlife Rakshak” teams are also being constituted to handle emergencies such as snake rescues and other wildlife intrusions.

The government announced enhanced compensation , offering ₹10 lakh ex gratia to families of those killed in wildlife attacks and ₹2 lakh to the injured. Livestock losses will be compensated at market rates. In 2025–26 alone, more than 2,100 wildlife-related cases were recorded, with nearly ₹4 crore disbursed as relief.

To manage elephant movement, four trained Operation elephants were brought in with support from Karnataka, enabling authorities to successfully complete eight operations so far.

An AI-based early warning system forms a key component of the project, using sensors and surveillance tools to detect wildlife movement and alert nearby villages in advance.

The Centre, which increased ex gratia for wildlife attack deaths to ₹10 lakh in 2023, has also issued guidelines to strengthen conflict management. Union Minister of State for Environment Kirti Vardhan Singh informed Parliament that 21 elephant attack deaths were reported in Andhra Pradesh between 2019 and 2023.

Officials said the Hanuman Project is intended to promote structured conflict management and long-term coexistence between communities and wildlife.