When Giants Clash Back: On Human-Animal Conflict in Nagaland

Human-animal conflict is on the rise globally, both in frequency and intensity, primarily driven by factors like population growth, urbanisation, agricultural expansion, developmental activities, competition for resources, encroachment on habitats, and climate change. This unprecedented development has resulted in significant losses, including damage to farmlands, destruction of property, killing of livestock and even casualties from both sides – humans and animals. As per reports by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, as many as 2,841 persons were killed in wild animal attacks over five years from 2019 to 2024 in 16 states. Out of this, attacks by elephants account for 2,727 fatalities, with 114 deaths recorded from Kerala alone during this period. It also revealed that, last year alone, a total of 628 people died due to human-elephant conflicts, which is the highest in the past five years, indicating that the situation is getting worse. The report also mentioned that Nagaland recorded two fatalities during the period, one each in 2023 and 2024. One more person, a 72-year-old farmer, was killed in a fatal elephant attack in New Riphyim village of Wokha district last week, triggering fear and concern among the people in the area. However, jumbo menace is not something new in the state, particularly in Wokha.

This menace, which has become a threat to human life as well as livelihood, has been taken up for deliberation both in the state Legislative Assembly and outside of it for years now, but no solution is in sight due to the failure of the concerned authorities to address it. Here, it is important to know that Nagaland has the second highest elephant density per square kilometre in the country, only next to Karnataka, though the population is only about 446, as per the Synchronised Elephant Population Estimation 2017 report by the Centre. A break-up of the wild elephant population in the state shows that Wokha, particularly the Bhandari area, is reportedly home to more than half of them. No wonder the district is witnessing frequent human-elephant conflicts, leading to loss of human lives and damage to crops. To end this recurring issue, a concrete action plan that includes both short-term and long-term strategies is essential. While immediate interventions like early warning systems, electric fencing, community engagement and regulation of human activities can reduce conflicts, measures like restoration of natural habitats, population control, and education can bring effective solutions. Most importantly, the concerned authorities should identify elephant corridors in the state, protect the existing ones and restore the degrading ones. This is crucial not only for mitigating human-elephant conflict but also to promote genetic diversity of jumbos and avoid habitat fragmentation. It’s time the government address the elephant in the room.