Analysis on the Integration of Artificial Intelligence in Human–Elephant Conflict Mitigation Through the Legal Lens

Abstract

Human–Elephant Conflict (HEC) has emerged as a pressing conservation and governance challenge in India, particularly in Assam, where dense human settlements intersect ancient elephant corridors. The escalation of habitat fragmentation, deforestation, and encroachment has intensified encounters leading to recurring losses— over 700 human and 600 elephant deaths between 2015 and 2024 (MoEFCC, 2024). Traditional mitigation strategies such as trenches, electric fences, and compensation schemes have proved inadequate against the complex and dynamic nature of HEC. Judicially, after the National Green Tribunal (NGT) intervention through OA No.174 of 2013 Rohit Choudhury -vs- Union of India & Otrs. that Artificial Intelligence (AI) has surfaced as a promising tool for conflict mitigation, offering real-time monitoring, predictive analytics, and automated early warning systems. This paper aims to understand the impact of AI on conflict mitigation and how it can transform HEC mitigation while remaining lawful, ethical, and locally legitimate. It specifically investigates the legal and policy frameworks governing AI deployment under India’s environmental and technological laws—the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972; Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980; Environment (Protection) Act, 1986; Information Technology Act, 2000; and the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023—alongside Assam’s regional conservation policies. Employing a doctrinal legal methodology supplemented by case analyses especially at Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve of AI-based interventions such as motion-sensor cameras, drone surveillance, and acoustic alert systems, the study evaluates the compatibility of emerging technologies with existing legal mandates. Findings highlight significant regulatory and ethical gaps, including the absence of explicit AI recognition in environmental law, data governance and liability ambiguities, and limited institutional readiness. The paper concludes that while AI offers transformative potential in real-time monitoring, predictive analytics, and early-warning systems, its success depends on robust legal safeguards, community participation, and interdepartmental coordination. It proposes a rights-based, multidisciplinary framework aligning ethical AI innovation with ecological integrity and constitutional principles, enabling coexistence-centered conservation in Assam and across India.