GUWAHATI: An elephant was spotted foraging for food in the urban area, a rare sight that unfolded in Guwahati's Satgaon neighborhood. The jumbo's descent from the hills was prompted by the scarcity of food in its natural habitat.
The encroachment of human settlements onto the slopes, where people construct homes and disrupt the wildlife, has driven animals like the elephant into more urbanized areas in search of sustenance.
This incident highlights the escalating conflicts between humans and wildlife, a direct consequence of human incursions into forests and mountains.
In recent years, Assam has experienced numerous incidents of human-elephant conflict, often leading to fatalities on both sides. The primary cause of these negative interactions is the loss of elephant habitat due to human activities.
In India, Assam ranks second in elephant population after Karnataka, as per the 2017 Elephant census.
An adult elephant consumes approximately 240 kilograms of plant material during an 18-hour day. Their continuous movement in search of food allows the vegetation they leave behind to regenerate naturally. They have a diverse diet, feeding on about 59 species of woody plants and 23 grass species.
However, human activities such as deforestation, the construction of linear infrastructure, monoculture plantations, mining, and overexploitation of forest resources have led to habitat loss for elephants. This loss of habitat has resulted in increasing human-elephant conflicts not only in Assam but also in other parts of India.
The presence of the elephant in the city area serves as a stark reminder of the impact of human activities on natural ecosystems.
As urban areas expand and encroach further into wildlife habitats, such encounters are likely to become more frequent. It underscores the urgent need for sustainable development practices that balance the needs of human populations with those of the natural world.
Authorities and communities must work together to mitigate these conflicts and protect both human and animal populations.
This includes implementing measures to prevent further encroachment into wildlife habitats, as well as developing strategies to manage and coexist with wildlife in urban areas.
Ultimately, addressing these issues requires a holistic approach that considers the well-being of both humans and animals, ensuring a harmonious balance between urban development and wildlife conservation.
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