'Holistic and multi-agency strategy needed to minimize man-elephant conflict'- Rituraj Phukon

A Correspondent

Numaligarh: Aaranyak, in collaboration with Golaghat Forest Department, Morangi Press Club and Dholaghuri ME School observed World Elephant Day at Dholaguri ME School premises on August 13. Essay competition and extempore speech competition were held among the students of the school to promote awareness on elephant conservation. The programme was inaugurated by Uttam Saikia, Honorary Wildlife Warden of Golaghat district. Saikia spoke about the importance of elephants and their conservation.

Bhaskar Deka, Divisional Forest Officer of Golaghat, Pushpadhar Borgohain, Forest Ranger of Golaghat Range and Hemanta Saikia, president of Morangi Press Club were present along with other dignitaries. A discussion on elephant conservation, human-elephant conflict, co-existence aspects and other issues was also held.

Honorary Wildlife Warden Uttam Saikia said, "There is a big illusion in Assam where people in general believe that the elephant population is increasing because of which these conflicts take place. But that is not true; the forest space has continuously shrunk, thus giving the illusion that there are more elephants."

Forest Ranger Pushpadhar Borgohain said, "Earlier, elephants in Assam used to go to Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram and Myanmar. But these places are fast getting out of bounds for them. Even if they manage to reach there, they are often killed and even eaten by people. That is why elephants now prefer staying near Numaligarh Deopahar and Nambor-Doigrung Reserve forest areas."

"The man-elephant conflict has grown much bigger in proportion in various places of Golaghat and it is no longer a problem that can be handled by the State Forest Department alone. For instance, in many places the power lines are not high enough, leaving elephants exposed to the risk of electrocution. At times these low-height power lines also end up helping unscrupulous elements to electrocute the elephants. A holistic and multi-agency strategy can only help achieve the desired results in elephant conservation and to minimize the human-elephant conflict," journalist and nature activist Rituraj Phukon added.

Also read: On Raksha Bandhan, demand for ghevar soars in Braj area

Also watch: Amazing folk twist to India's national anthem using folk instruments