Human-elephant conflicts taking heavy toll in State

BY OUR STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, Aug 16: Human-elephant conflicts in Assam have been on the rise over recent years, becoming graver with the intrusion of people into wildlife habitats.

The State Forest and Environment Department has reported 498 human and 112 elephant deaths owing to such conflicts between 2011 and 2017.

The department has recorded 68 human deaths in 2011 due to elephant attacks, 83 in 2012, 81 in 2013 and 51 deaths in 2014. While in 2015 as many as 118 people died in elephant attacks, the toll was 97 the period from January, 2016 to January, 2017.

On the other hand, 13 pachyderms fell victim to speeding trains, poisoning and electrocution in 2011 while 22 elephants died in 2012. A total 14 elephants were killed in conflicts with humans in 2013 and 21 killed in 2014. The number of elephant deaths due to human agency was 18 in 2015, while it was 24 from January, 2016 to January, 2017 due to train-hits, poisoning and electrocution.

During this period, wild elephants have killed the highest number of people at Dhansiri in Udalguri district and in Sonitpur district.  As many as 97 people have lost their lives each in the two districts between 2011 and 2017.

According to a wildlife expert, factors like rapid loss of dense forests, infrastructure projects falling in elephant habitats and rising frustration of villagers due to loss of property and lives are intensifying human-elephant conflicts.

Uble to find enough resources to sustain in their old habitats, the pachyderms venture out close to human settlements, damage farms and property and attack people, he said.

“To save themselves, people try to chase away the wild animals with drums, sticks, spears and fire-torches. Some even resort to poisoning and electrocuting them,” said the expert.