Assam University Professor Presents Research on Human-Elephant Conflict at International Conference in Oxford

Silchar, June 18:* Prof. Parthankar Choudhury of the Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Assam University, Silchar, participated in the prestigious four-day international conference, “Pathways Europe – Human Dimensions of Wildlife,” held at Oxford Brookes University, United Kingdom, from June 14 to 17, 2026.

During the conference, Prof. Choudhury presented a research paper titled “Comparative Assessment of Two Mitigation Strategies for Reducing Human-Elephant Conflict in Assam, India.” The study evaluates the effectiveness of two conflict-mitigation measures—low-powered (12V) electric fencing and the plantation of fodder crops—in reducing human-elephant conflicts in the Swang Reserve Forest of Nagaon district, Assam.

The research seeks to identify which strategy is better suited to minimize encounters between local communities and elephants while promoting coexistence and conservation. The study was conducted jointly with Dr. J. B. Baishya and Dr. N. R. Talukdar, both noted scholars working on mega-herbivore conservation in Assam.

Pathways Europe is an internationally recognized platform focusing on the human dimensions of wildlife management and conservation. The organization was founded by Prof. Michael J. Manfredo and Prof. Jerry Vaske of Colorado State University, USA. Its mission is to address the growing challenges arising from interactions between humans and wildlife and to enhance professionalism and effectiveness in wildlife conservation efforts worldwide.

The theme of this year’s conference was “Wildlife and Human Wellbeing.” The event featured discussions on a wide range of topics, including wildlife and nature connectedness, wildlife as inspiration for the arts, agriculture and food production, wildlife and leisure, human-wildlife conflict and coexistence, wildlife values, and human-animal relationships.

More than 300 participants, delegates, researchers, conservationists, and resource persons from different countries attended the conference. Through presentations, discussions, and collaborative exchanges, the event aimed to promote sustainable coexistence between humans and wildlife and ensure the healthy survival of diverse species across the globe.

Prof. Choudhury’s participation and presentation at the international forum highlight the growing contribution of Assam University to global wildlife conservation research and reinforce the importance of scientific approaches to addressing human-elephant conflict in India.