Indian conservationist Praveen Bhargav has outlined a science-based approach to elephant protection during a visit to Colombo, emphasizing that effective wildlife conservation requires reliable data, sound policy, and practical ground-level solutions.

Wildlife conservation demands more than emotional attachment to endangered animals—it requires rigorous scientific foundations, data-driven decision-making, and pragmatic interventions tailored to specific locations, according to Praveen Bhargav, Managing Trustee of Wildlife First. Speaking in Colombo at an event organized by the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society on World Elephant Day, Bhargav outlined how India has developed and implemented conservation strategies that balance ecological requirements with development needs.

Bhargav stressed that while emotion connects people to conservation causes, scientific knowledge must guide actual policy decisions. Without proper ecological underpinnings, even well-intentioned policies can produce unintended consequences. He emphasized the critical importance of identifying knowledge gaps and directing research toward areas where reliable information remains scarce. Additionally, conservationists must rigorously estimate wildlife populations through sampling-based assessments to determine whether conservation efforts are succeeding.

Among India's successful interventions, Bhargav highlighted voluntary resettlement programs that reconnect fragmented habitats, scientific identification of elephant corridors, and infrastructure redesign to minimize wildlife disruption. One example involved constructing an elevated highway through a critical wildlife corridor, allowing animals to move at ground level beneath traffic. He stressed that site-specific solutions are essential, as interventions effective in one location may prove unsuitable elsewhere. Progress in conservation occurs gradually, requiring persistent effort rather than immediate results.

Bhargav emphasized that wildlife protection demands "eternal vigilance" against illegal trade and that infrastructure projects should prioritize avoiding important wildlife areas, with mitigation measures employed when avoidance proves impossible. On his first visit to Sri Lanka, he expressed interest in learning about the country's specific elephant conservation challenges and urged local policymakers to ground their decisions in thorough knowledge assessments and site-specific approaches.