A new protected area is coming—but coexistence will only work if people are part of the plan.

For generations, elephants crossed between India and Bangladesh without conflict. Now, they face fences, farms, and fear.

• For generations, wild elephants moved freely between India and Bangladesh.
• After border fencing was installed in 2019, several elephants became trapped inside Bangladesh’s northeastern hills, unable to return to their seasonal migration routes.
• With nowhere to go but croplands, this led to frequent clashes with communities, resulting in multiple human casualties and harm to the elephants themselves.

Bangladesh plans to declare a 200-square-kilometre protected area across the Sherpur–Mymensingh–Netrokona corridor, but most of the designated area is already densely populated, so enforcement and human cooperation are critical.

This isn’t just about saving elephants. It’s about restoring balance between memory and movement, survival and respect.