Tinsukia, June 14: A troubling incident of human-elephant conflict has emerged in the Sadia area of Tinsukia district, Assam. A herd of wild elephants wreaked havoc in the Bhabla Balijan village, damaging several homes, destroying farmers’ crops, and uprooting numerous valuable teak trees.
Regional Forest Officer Lucky Dutta reported that five homes were damaged in the recent human-elephant conflict in the Sadia area. Additionally, many standing crops in the fields were adversely affected. There has been a noticeable increase in such incidents in recent days.
According to Dutta, a field study by the forest department identified three major elephant corridors around the Gurumura and Lohit rivers. These corridors have already been proposed for government notification. However, local residents have begun cultivating maize, potatoes, and other seasonal crops in these areas, disrupting the elephants’ movement.
He emphasized the need to remove encroachments on government land and sapori areas to allow elephants to traverse their natural paths freely.
The forest department is conducting regular patrols. They are also distributing torches and firecrackers to villagers as a means to deter elephants from populated areas. The department plans to collaborate with the administration to conduct awareness and capacity-building programs, educating people on what to do—and what not to do—in such situations.
Dutta urged the residents of the Sadia area to refrain from cultivating maize and other attractive crops in the elephant corridors and sapori areas, as this could reduce conflict incidents.
He also mentioned that, with the help of local NGOs, initiatives are underway to install solar fencing around villages near the reserve forest. Additionally, planting lemon trees as a form of organic fencing is being promoted.
Tinsukia, June 14.
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