Human-elephant conflict: Farmers undertake exposure tour to Garo Hills

Dimapur, Feb, 28 (EMN): With an objective to better equip farmers and villagers with new techniques and methods in managing human-elephant conflicts, the Wokha Forest Division organised an exposure tour for the farmers to Garo Hills Elephant Reserve in Meghalaya.

An update informed that Wokha district alone accounts for over 70% of the total Asiatic elephant population. It added that human-elephant conflicts in the district occurred frequently resulting in extensive damage to property and crop even to the extent of loss of life to both humans and elephants.

Despite best management practices already implemented in the villages, it was imperative to continue looking for newer and improvised ideas to better handle and mitigate the situation, the statement read. It stated that the exposure was organised in order to explore for newer and additional mitigation measures in areas facing similar situations.

The five-day tour programme was held from February 9 to the 13th. The team comprised of 18 persons including 12 farmers from 12 different villages namely Tsingiki, Nungying, Old Riphyim, New Riphyim, Old Changsu, Akuk, Morakjo, Okotso, Chudi, Sanis, Lakhuti, and Meshangphen. The team was led by Lansothung Lotha, range forest officer, Baghty range, and assisted by Zaremo Kithan, Forester-I, Johnny from Wildlife Wing, Dimapur, and Hosia Kikon, W Thungchamo Kikon and Pilamo K Ngullie from Wokha forest division.

The tour was organised under Project Elephant and the farmers were also part of the anti-depredation squad, formed under the same project.