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<p>Human–elephant conflict is a longstanding issue in India, with its prevalence increasing due to human population expansion, rapid urbanization and environmental modifications. In Assam, as well as other regions of the country, the interaction between humans and wildlife has intensified, largely driven by habitat fragmentation resulting from agricultural expansion, infrastructure development, including residential and industrial construction, as well as the expansion of roads. The degradation of natural habitats has exacerbated conflicts between elephants and humans, leading to significant fatalities each year in the Nagaon district of Assam. The present study focuses on Swang Reserve Forest, a densely forested, hilly terrain situated near the Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong Elephant Reserve. Using temporal satellite imagery, we analyzed the habitat conditions of elephants within the Swang Reserve Forest. Land Use Land Cover change analysis indicated substantial transformations in vegetation, agricultural areas, water bodies, and anthropogenic features, such as settlements and infrastructure, between 1993 and 2019. An area of 479.7&#xa0;ha of forest cover has been transformed into other land-use activities between the study periods. Additionally, Change Matrix analysis confirms the occurrence of deforestation during this time-frame. Given these findings, it is imperative to implement reforestation initiatives in the identified degraded areas to support long-term elephant conservation. Furthermore, anthropogenic disturbances should be minimized within critical corridors and buffer zones to facilitate ecological sustainability and mitigate human-elephant conflict.</p>

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Assessment of Asiatic elephant habitats using satellite data: a study in Swang Reserve Forest of Assam, India

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年12月24日

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  • Jyoti Bikash Baishya,
  • Parthankar Choudhury,
  • Raihan Ahmed,
  • Nazimur Rahman Talukdar

摘要

Human–elephant conflict is a longstanding issue in India, with its prevalence increasing due to human population expansion, rapid urbanization and environmental modifications. In Assam, as well as other regions of the country, the interaction between humans and wildlife has intensified, largely driven by habitat fragmentation resulting from agricultural expansion, infrastructure development, including residential and industrial construction, as well as the expansion of roads. The degradation of natural habitats has exacerbated conflicts between elephants and humans, leading to significant fatalities each year in the Nagaon district of Assam. The present study focuses on Swang Reserve Forest, a densely forested, hilly terrain situated near the Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong Elephant Reserve. Using temporal satellite imagery, we analyzed the habitat conditions of elephants within the Swang Reserve Forest. Land Use Land Cover change analysis indicated substantial transformations in vegetation, agricultural areas, water bodies, and anthropogenic features, such as settlements and infrastructure, between 1993 and 2019. An area of 479.7 ha of forest cover has been transformed into other land-use activities between the study periods. Additionally, Change Matrix analysis confirms the occurrence of deforestation during this time-frame. Given these findings, it is imperative to implement reforestation initiatives in the identified degraded areas to support long-term elephant conservation. Furthermore, anthropogenic disturbances should be minimized within critical corridors and buffer zones to facilitate ecological sustainability and mitigate human-elephant conflict.