Guwahati, Nov 11: As part of its multi-stakeholder approach to facilitate mitigation of raging human elephant conflict (HEC), biodiversity conservation organisation Aaranyak with
support from the SBI Foundation (SBIF), has been carrying out a series of sensitisation
campaigns that focus on facilitating coexistence amid HEC in the districts of Udalguri,
Tamulpur and Baksa in Assam.
These sensitisation campaigns centred around making the stakeholders understand the HEC scenario within the village and surrounding areas, discussion on practical solutions to cope with the same for coexistence.
These solutions include installation of solar street lights and LED blinking lights on vantage
points in HEC-affected areas so as to prevent both human beings and wild elephants coming very close to each other.
The affected stakeholders are also sensitised on efficacy of solar powered fences to keep the wild elephants off the cropland and human settlements as well as the benefit of taking tocultivation of crops that are less palatable to wild elephants to prevent loss of income
because depredation of traditional crops by wild elephants.
These campaigns also strive to raise awareness on elephant behaviour and adverse impacts ofillegal electrocution of wild elephants.
One such outreach programme was conducted by Aaranyak Team at Hajwgudi village in
Tamulpur district in collaboration with the Kumarikata Range Office under Baksa Forest
Division, 24 Bn SSB (Bihangapur BoP), and MSKETS NGO. The session focused on
addressing prevalent HEC in the area.
Over 50, community members participated in discussions on the conflict issues, and practical mitigation strategies along with representatives of collaborating partners.
The programme was attended by SSB Inspector Dhenu Singh and several other staff of the
paramilitary force. Forest Department was represented by Lachit Borgoyari, Boloram Deka Kachari and several other staff. Aaranyak Team that facilitated and conducted the meeting
comprised of Rabiya Daimari, Abhijit Saikia, Abhilasha Baruah.
Similar outreach programme was organised organized in Teliyapara village of Tamulpur
district of Assam on Monday where about 60 community members were present.
The programme supported by the SBI Foundation (SBIF), included a presentation of Gajah
Katha, Aaranyak signature campaign on HEC mitigation, and an interactive discussion on
various HEC mitigation measures for addressing human-elephant conflict.
As part of the initiative, a local Solar Fence Management Committee was formed to support
the village’s newly-installed solar fencing system. Prior to the committee’s formation,
Aaranyak team conducted a short briefing on proper maintenance and operation of the
system. Altogether 60 community members participated in the programme facilitated by
Aaranyak’s Rabiya Daimari, Abhijit Saikia, Abhilasha Boruah, Bikash Tossa, Manav Nayak
and Pradip Barman.
