Introducing the first conceptual framework and testable hypotheses for land tenure in territorial carnivores, highlighting its role in population stability and responses to environmental change. It’s time to bring land tenure into the spotlight of carnivore ecology and conservation. @Kanfeline @sumankoley94 @shaheerkhan @thewild_dodo @wii_india @bhlab_india @rameshpandeyifs @GobindsagarBha1 @SPYadavIFS @IBCA_official @ntca_india #carnivoreecology #wildlifeconservation #landtenure #ecology

Congratulations to Shri Ramesh Kumar Pandey on successfully defending his Ph.D. thesis on 7 October 2026. His doctoral research, “Beyond Tusks and Terrains: An In-depth Analysis of Human–Elephant Interactions in Contemporary India,” examined the evolving patterns of human–elephant conflict (HEC), landscape-level drivers, elephant population assessment and mitigation strategies across India. The research adopted an integrated, multi-scale approach, combining national trends, long-term assessments in Assam, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh, and a detailed landscape-level study in Udalguri. A key finding was that HEC is not determined by elephant population size alone, but is strongly associated with habitat fragmentation, landscape configuration, land-use change and increasing human–elephant interactions. The thesis also evaluated elephant population estimation methods and the effectiveness of existing conflict mitigation measures, highlighting the need for scientifically robust monitoring, habitat connectivity, community participation and region-specific management interventions. Together, the research provides a comprehensive scientific framework for understanding human–elephant interactions in India and advancing evidence-based, landscape-specific conservation strategies that promote long-term human–elephant coexistence. @wii_india @moefcc @rameshpandeyifs @GobindsagarBha1 @paragnigam09 @wildwithwolves #WildlifeInstituteOfIndia