By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Oct 6: Experts, students and conservation enthusiasts on Monday converged to deliberate over one of the most pressing challenges in wildlife conservation — the growing conflict between humans and elephants.
This was possible because of an awareness programme organised by the North Eastern Regional Centre, Zoological Survey of India (NERC, ZSI), Shillong, on “Human-Elephant Conflict” at its office on the occasion of Wildlife Week, 2025.
The programme featured three distinguished speakers — Prof PC Bhattacharjee, retired professor of Zoology, Gauhati University; Dr Bibhuti Prasad Lahkar, Programme Secretary and Deputy Executive Director at Aaranyak; and Peter Thorose, Principal of St. Peter’s College, Shillong.
It also saw the active participation of about 60 students and faculty members representing several colleges of Shillong, including St. Anthony’s College, St. Edmund’s College, St. Peter’s College, St. Mary’s College, Shillong College, Sankardev College and Lady Keane College. Participants engaged in lively discussions and shared perspectives on sustainable coexistence between humans and elephants.
Speaking on the topic “Human-Wildlife Conflict in North-East India,” Prof Bhattacharjee shared insights drawn from decades of research and experience, emphasising the importance of coexistence strategies rooted in ecological understanding and policy support.
Dr Lahkar, in his presentation on “Community-based Human-Elephant Conflict Management in Assam,” highlighted practical examples of conflict mitigation and community participation, illustrating successful models of collaboration between local communities and conservation organisations.
Thorose spoke on “Human-Elephant Conflict,” drawing attention to the importance of community-led conservation and the need to integrate local knowledge systems into wildlife protection initiatives.
Earlier, the event began with a welcome address by Jennifer Lyngdoh, Scientist-E and Officer-in-Charge, NERC, ZSI, Shillong, followed by an introductory lecture by Dr Saipari Sailo, Scientist-D, ZSI, setting the context for the day’s discussions.
Dr Uttam Saikia, Scientist-D, ZSI, delivered the concluding remarks, summarising the key messages and emphasising continued collaboration for conservation awareness.
