Nagaland: Farmer killed in wild elephant attack at New Riphyim Village

WOKHA — A 72-year-old farmer, Rentsamo Odyuo of New Riphyim village, was killed by wild elephants while returning home from his rubber plantation on the evening of August 2.

Family members and villagers launched a search early Sunday morning after he failed to return. His body was later found with injuries consistent with an elephant attack.

Villagers said Odyuo had resumed rubber farming after more than six years, following an earlier incident in which elephants destroyed his crops. He was returning alone from his new plantation when he encountered a herd and was killed.

T Chanbemo Odyuo, chairman of New Riphyim village and president of the Chairman Union, Englan range, said this brings the number of elephant-related deaths in the range to three—two of them in New Riphyim.

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At a brief condolence service held at the burial site, village leaders, GBs and students expressed concern over the growing human-elephant conflict. They warned that if the government and departments concerned fail to act, villagers may resort to traditional self-defence methods, including hunting elephants.

Wildlife Warden of Dimapur, Tokaho Kinimi, visited the bereaved family on Sunday. He assured villagers that assistance would be provided. Responding to demands for compensation, Kinimi cited a similar case in Mokokchung district in 2024, where the victim’s family was given INR 5 lakh.

Kinimi expressed condolences and urged the community to work towards peaceful coexistence. He also stressed the need for structured programmes and proper guidelines to address and manage the growing conflict.