GUWAHATI, Feb 10: Frontline research-oriented biodiversity conservation organisation, Aaranyak has completed the first phase of the “Elephant Occupancy Survey” in eight districts of Meghalaya that is expected to provide effective ways for mitigation of human-elephant conflict and boost conservation in the Northeast.
Conducted in collaboration with the Meghalaya forests and environment department with support from the US Fish and Wildlife Service of the United States, the survey has so far covered West Garo Hills, East Garo Hills, South West Garo Hills, North Garo Hills, West Khasi Hills, South West Khasi Hills, Eastern West Khasi Hills and Ri-Bhoi districts.
“Meghalaya has one of the highest densities of elephants in the country. The latest elephant census in Meghalaya was carried out from March 26, 2017 to March 29, 2017 using the dung decay count method. According to the census, there are 1754 elephants in Meghalaya,” the official website of the forests and environment department of Meghalaya said.
“In the current survey, elephant distribution in the state is being analysed. Genetic analysis of dung samples will be conducted at the Wildlife Genetics Laboratory at Aaranyak whose team will also do estimation of elephants in Balpakram National Park using a variety of scientific methods. While following up on the survey, Aaranyak will utilise a variety of methods to mitigate human-elephant conflict in the state,” Aaranyak’s senior researcher, Abhijit Boruah, who is leading the survey team, said. Many of Aaranyak’s researchers and field staff are involved in this critical survey, including another senior researcher Rubul Tanti and field investigators Rupam Goyari, Prodip Barman, and Dibakar Nayak.
“Using occupancy models, conservation interventions can be guided according to where a species occurs and why, as well as the status of rare and threatened wildlife. In this region of highly fragmented elephant distribution, little quantitative research has been done previously on elephants and their habitats. Through occupancy survey, major intervention can be guided in terms of habitat which is linked to human elephant conflict,” a statement issued by Aaranyak said.
