India, Feb. 25 -- IISER Pune professor Dr Milind Watve says decades-long hunting ban has reduced animals' avoidance behaviour around humans

Maharashtra may be losing Rs 10,000-40,000 crore annually to wildlife-linked agricultural damage

Study finds losses include both visible crop destruction and indirect impacts such as farmers abandoning rabi cultivation

Scientist calls for a "behaviour optimised" wildlife policy focusing on changing both animal and human behaviour

A complete ban on hunting in India has led to wildlife losing its avoidance behaviour around humans, pushing crop raids and farm losses higher, biologist Dr Milind Watve told an audience at the Anil Agarwal Dialogue (AAD) 2026.

AAD 2026 is the annual media conclave organ...