Project HANUMAN
Context:
On World Wildlife Day 2026, Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Forest & Environment, Pawan Kalyan, launched a major initiative called Project HANUMAN.
The project is an urgent response to the escalating crisis of human-wildlife conflict in the state, which recorded over 2,100 such cases and disbursed nearly ₹4 crore in compensation during the 2025-26 fiscal year alone
About the Project:
HANUMAN stands for Healing and Nurturing Units for Monitoring, Aid and Nursing of Wildlife.
Rooted in the principle of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam', the project recognizes that wildlife is essential for ecological balance.
It is conceived as a comprehensive, technology-driven intervention to shift the focus from post-incident damage control to proactive, preventive management.
It seeks to protect forest-dwelling wildlife while simultaneously safeguarding the lives, crops, and livestock of vulnerable communities living in forest fringe villages.
Key Infrastructure and Field Operations:
Rapid Response Fleet:
The operational backbone of the project is a newly deployed fleet of over 100 GPS-enabled vehicles.
This includes 93 Rapid Response and Rescue Vehicles and 7 fully equipped wildlife ambulances designed to provide immediate on-site veterinary care and safe transport.
Treatment Centres:
Four dedicated Wildlife Rescue and Treatment Centres have been established strategically at Visakhapatnam, Rajamahendravaram, Tirupati, and Byrluti (Atmakur).
These hubs are supported by 19 rapid response teams stationed across the state.
Vajra Teams:
At the grassroots level, specialized 'Vajra' teams—comprising trained local wildlife protectors—are being formed to handle immediate emergencies, such as snake rescues, before specialized help arrives.
Kumki Deployment:
To address the acute wild elephant menace in districts like Chittoor, Srikakulam, and Parvathipuram Manyam, the state has successfully deployed four trained Kumki elephants (captive elephants used to guide wild ones) brought from Karnataka.
Technological Interventions:
AI and Early Warning:
The project pioneers the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based monitoring systems to track animal movement along forest borders, issuing predictive early warnings to prevent fatal encounters.