New Study Highlights Elephant Movement Patterns in Assam

A recent study conducted in Assam has uncovered significant insights into the movement patterns of elephants, revealing that they traverse tea gardens, farmlands, and human settlements. The research highlights the need for a comprehensive approach to elephant conservation and conflict management, as elephants expand their ranges significantly during certain seasons. With findings indicating that tea plantations serve as crucial habitats, the study calls for proactive measures to mitigate human-elephant encounters and enhance habitat connectivity. This groundbreaking research sheds light on the complex interactions between elephants and their environment, emphasizing the importance of sustainable practices in wildlife management.

By Narendra Chaudhary Oct 12, 2026, 09:45 IST

Elephants Expanding Their Range in Assam

A file image of a herd of elephants

GUWAHATI, Oct 12: A recent GPS telemetry study has revealed that elephants in Assam are venturing far beyond their forest habitats, moving through tea gardens, agricultural fields, riverine grasslands, and human settlements. This finding emphasizes the urgent need for a comprehensive approach to elephant conservation and the management of human-elephant conflicts.

The research indicates that some elephant herds have an annual home range that exceeds 500 square kilometers, with one herd covering as much as 890 square kilometers. The study also highlights the significance of tea plantations as secondary habitats, where elephants frequently seek shelter and movement.

Conducted by the Assam Forest Department in collaboration with WWF-India from April 2021 to June 2026, the study monitored four female-led herds and one solitary male in high-conflict districts such as Udalguri, Sonitpur, and Biswanath.

This pioneering effort aims to shed light on the ranging behaviors and habitat utilization of Asian elephants in Assam.

The results indicate that elephants navigate a complex landscape comprising forests, tea estates, agricultural lands, and human settlements. Notably, all collared elephants expanded their ranges significantly during the monsoon and post-monsoon seasons, likely due to the availability of crops.

Seasonal movements varied by district, with the Udalguri herds showing distinct seasonal patterns and larger average home ranges compared to those in Sonitpur. One herd recorded an impressive annual home range of 890 square kilometers.

In Sonitpur, satellite telemetry revealed that two collared elephants belonged to different herds with overlapping home ranges, collectively covering over 500 square kilometers annually. Their ranges were relatively confined, spanning about 30-50 square kilometers from January to September, before dramatically expanding to 450-500 square kilometers during the post-monsoon months.

During this time, the elephants utilized the Nameri-Sonai Rupai-Arimora Chapori corridor to access the Brahmaputra River, underscoring the importance of interconnected habitats and movement corridors for sustaining elephant populations.

The solitary male tracked in Biswanath exhibited an even broader range than the elephants in Sonitpur and Udalguri, covering 947 square kilometers and extending approximately 40 kilometers southeast towards Gohpur, 18 kilometers south, and 23 kilometers southwest across the Brahmaputra’s riverine chaporis, which include grasslands and river islands.

In Udalguri, transboundary movements into Bhutan were noted, as herds migrated there during the dry season, likely due to water scarcity on the Indian side.

The study also observed differences in elephant movement patterns between day and night, influenced by land use. Elephants tended to move more extensively at night through human-dominated areas, while exhibiting more daytime activity in natural habitats.

With increasing human pressure on forests and traditional wildlife habitats, tea plantations are becoming crucial areas for elephant movement, foraging, and habitation. All four collared female elephants and their herds frequently utilized tea gardens in Sonitpur and Udalguri, highlighting the role of these estates in facilitating elephant movement across the landscape.

However, their near-constant presence in tea plantations raises concerns about potential encounters between humans and elephants, as well as the risk of electrocution.

“The consistent presence of elephants in tea plantations calls for proactive measures to mitigate the risk of accidental encounters and prevent electrocutions,” the study emphasized.

It recommended enhancing lighting in tea estate settlements and along adjacent roads to improve visibility at night, enabling residents to spot approaching elephants and avoid unexpected encounters.

The study also proposed restoring low-lying areas within tea estates that are not currently planted with tea, thereby increasing forage availability for elephants.

As many tea estates are installing electrified fences to deter elephants from entering tea-growing areas, researchers stressed the importance of careful planning for these barriers. While fences can protect vulnerable areas, poorly designed installations could obstruct traditional elephant pathways and disrupt their movement across the landscape.