Supreme Court Bans Obstructions on Traditional Elephant Corridors

The Supreme Court on August 17, 2026, ordered the Centre to conduct a nationwide survey to remove human-made obstructions from traditional elephant corridors across all states.

Chief Justice Surya Kant directed the government to enforce a 2018 ban on using fireballs, spikes, and burning rods to drive away elephants, which are protected under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

The court rejected state-level blockades as a solution to human-animal conflict and scheduled a follow-up hearing in eight weeks to review the status report on corridor clearance.