Kathmandu, July 11 - Amid renewed public debate over the future of the wild elephant Dhrube, a leading conservation voice has called for a science-based and humane approach to managing Nepal's growing human-elephant conflict, arguing that killing the animal would neither resolve the crisis nor prevent similar incidents in the future.
In a public statement, Balen Hari Dhakal emphasized that while the loss of human lives in recent and past elephant encounters is deeply tragic and unacceptable, the long-term solution lies in addressing the root causes of conflict rather than eliminating a single animal. The statement comes as public calls for lethal action against Dhrube have intensified following repeated incidents involving the elephant.
Dhakal questioned whether killing one elephant could truly end human-elephant conflict, stressing that wild elephants are not criminals but protected wildlife acting according to their natural instincts. He noted that elephants do not recognize human-made boundaries and that communities living near forests and protected areas inevitably share landscapes with wildlife.
According to the statement, when an elephant repeatedly poses a serious threat to human safety, decisions should be guided by scientific evidence, compassion, and long-term planning rather than fear or revenge. Instead of culling the animal, Dhakal proposed that authorities assess the feasibility of safely capturing Dhrube and managing him in a scientifically designed, secure sanctuary where he could receive lifelong care while eliminating the risk of further encounters with nearby communities.
The statement also highlighted lessons from previous wildlife management efforts, noting that both poorly managed capture operations and retaliatory killings have failed to provide lasting solutions. Dhakal argued that aggressive behaviour in wild elephants can result from a combination of biological, environmental, and human-induced factors, including habitat loss and increasing interactions between people and wildlife, underscoring the importance of understanding animal behaviour before resorting to lethal measures.
Beyond the immediate case of Dhrube, the statement called on the Government of Nepal to strengthen long-term conservation measures, including protecting wildlife corridors, preventing forest degradation, improving early warning systems, and providing greater support to communities affected by elephant movements.
Drawing on international examples of elephant rescue and lifetime care, including conservation centres in Thailand, Dhakal said Nepal could develop its own humane and scientifically informed management model. He also stated that the Nepal Elephant Care Foundation is ready to collaborate with the government, wildlife experts, veterinarians, and conservation organizations to explore sustainable solutions.
"The solution is not revenge. The solution is coexistence. The solution is conservation," the statement concluded, urging policymakers to balance human safety, community welfare, and elephant conservation in future decisions.
The case of Dhrube has once again brought national attention to the increasing challenge of human-elephant conflict in Nepal, highlighting the need for integrated policies that safeguard both human lives and one of the country's most iconic endangered species.
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