Human-elephant conflict is rising across India. Every year nearly 400 people are killed by elephants and about 100 elephants lose their lives. Enigmatically, the conflict is not restricted to the areas where elephants have traditionally been found. In fact, a large number of conflicts are being reported from regions that have had no elephant population for at least half a century. Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Goa and Madhya Pradesh, which were not traditional elephant ranges, now have elephant presence. Even within the states like Karnataka, Odisha and West Bengal that have elephant ranges, the elephants are moving to newer areas. Clearly, both the intensity and spread of the human-elephant conflict is increasing. To understand why and how, Down To Earth sent its reporters to conflict hot spots