Securing Connectivity: Conservation territorialisation, power, and elephant corridors in rural South India

My PhD research examines what happens when governments and non-governmental organisations acquire and regulate agricultural and rural land to create elephant corridors for conservation. These corridors are intended to help elephants move safely between forests, which is important for their long-term survival. However, creating them can also lead to farming communities losing access to their land, affecting their livelihoods and ways of life. My research explores how these corridors are established, how they are justified by conservation organisations and the state, and how they are experienced by the people most directly affected. It also asks whether elephant conservation can be achieved in ways that protect both wildlife and the rights and well-being of local communities.  
This research highlights that successful conservation is not only about protecting elephants but also about ensuring that conservation is fair and socially just. By understanding the human impacts of elephant corridors, my work aims to inform more equitable approaches to conservation.