Ralan residents send SOS as wild elephants wreak havoc 

DIMAPUR — A herd of wild elephants numbering around 40 is reported to be causing havoc at Ralan area in Wokha district for the past one week, damaging various plantations, crops and properties.

This concern was flagged by the Ralan Area Lotha Hoho in a letter addressed to the Chief Wildlife Warden, Nagaland.

“The situation has immensely affected the daily course of the villagers as it has badly restricted their movement. It is also pertinent to mention that the presence of wild elephants in the area has been witnessed every year but so far no preventive measures were seen to have been implemented from the concerned department.

“As law-abiding citizens, the villagers so far have been patient enough to bear the losses caused by the wild elephants. However, if the said situation persists or unless the concerned authorities take up some measures at the earliest, the villagers may be tempted to take up their own course of action to control the situation as harvesting of paddies is also approaching soon,” the letter read.

It therefore urged the Chief Wildlife Warden to take up the matter on priority in order to minimise the human-elephant conflict in the area “as it has already caused irreplaceable loss to the villagers over the years besides endangering the lives of the public.”

Also read: Nagaland Police seek information on locals missing in Southeast Asia