By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Dec 28: While human-elephant conflict in Meghalaya often dominates conservation discussions due to its impact on crops, property and lives, a troubling statistic remains overlooked—the state recorded 14 elephant poaching cases between 2019 and 2023, the second-highest in India, according to data from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC).
Meghalaya accounts for nearly 28 per cent of the 50 elephant poaching cases reported across India during this period, trailing only Odisha, which recorded 17 cases. Tamil Nadu reported 10 cases, while states like Assam, Kerala and Nagaland reported three or fewer.
The rise in poaching adds another layer to the decades-long human-elephant conflict in Meghalaya. Between 2009 and 2021, over 10,500 incidents of human-elephant conflict were reported, resulting in 66 human deaths, 50 injuries, and extensive crop and property damage.
The dual threats of habitat loss and targeted killing now loom large over the state’s elephant population.
Experts attribute the poaching to illegal ivory trade networks and retaliatory killings, both exacerbated by human encroachments into elephant habitats. Deforestation, mining and agricultural expansion have fragmented forests, forcing elephants to venture into human settlements. These incursions often lead to crop raids and violent encounters.
The rapid loss of forest cover further compounds the issue.
Census data from 2017 shows Meghalaya hosts a significant elephant population, particularly in Balpakram National Park and Khasi Wildlife Division. However, the state’s elephant reserves and corridors remain underdeveloped.
For instance, a proposed elephant reserve in Khasi Hills—an area with the highest conflict density—has yet to materialise.
While South Garo Hills has seen a decline in crop damage incidents, Khasi Hills continues to report steady or increasing cases of conflict.
Adding to these challenges is the transboundary movement of elephants between Meghalaya and Bangladesh, which often leads to encounters in agricultural fields, escalating tensions further.
