Dolsy is a PhD student and conservation researcher based in South India working on capturing human-elephant coexistence as a lived reality. Her focus is the mosaic landscape of Gudalur where elephants have long been part of the cultural fabric. Her project documents and amplifies everyday negotiations through ethnographic surveys and oral histories across diverse demographics and indigenous communities. She will move beyond conflict narratives to celebrate under-recognized practices of tolerance rooted in cultural traditions, adaptive strategies, and community governance.

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Through participatory storytelling, bilingual multimedia content, and vibrant social media outreach, Dolsy’s work will highlight adaptive strategies of coexistence. By amplifying local voices, her work will broaden our understanding of human-wildlife dynamics, and hope to inspire conservation research rooted in listening deeply to local communities. This project shifts the narrative from conflict to the complexities of coexistence, proving cohabitation between people and elephants is an active, enduring and negotiated choice.

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