No State can block traditional elephant routes: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court has ruled that no state can obstruct traditional elephant migration routes, stating that blocking corridors is not a viable solution to human-animal conflicts. The court directed the Centre to conduct a national survey to identify and remove obstructions from these established pathways.

The bench also issued directives to ban the use of fireballs and spikes as methods to drive away elephants, citing animal welfare concerns. The ruling emphasises the need for states to protect natural elephant corridors while addressing the broader issue of human-wildlife coexistence.