Elephant ‘visits’ cause tension for residents in Assam border area

One of the houses in the Wophong Taro Bosti and Boro-Lengri areas (bordering Nagaland’s Dimapur district) effected by the human-elephant conflicts. (Morung Photo)

One of the houses in the Wophong Taro Bosti and Boro-Lengri areas (bordering Nagaland’s Dimapur district) effected by the human-elephant conflicts. (Morung Photo)

Kanili Kiho
Dimapur | February 19

Huge and majestic, elephants are incredible creatures and undeniably a sight to behold. They are the largest land mammal and a symbol of strength and elegance.

These giants are also extremely important to the eco system as they help spread plant life, estimated at 2000 seeds per square kilometer a day, through their droppings.

Yet anthropogenic activity and growing pressure on their natural habitat results in conflict often at the cost of lives on both sides, which calls for sustainable solutions. 

In neighbouring Karbi Anglong, Assam, human-elephant conflicts have become increasingly common. 

Wophong Taro Bosti and Boro-Lengri (bordering Nagaland’s Dimapur district), once part of a larger elephant corridor, are no strangers to such situations.  

Around midnight on February 18, the residents faced one such situation staying up till morning as a lone elephant made its appearance. The locals have grown accustomed to visits from elephant yet there are times when it becomes harrowing and tragic. 

The Morung Express visited the area and interacted with the locals, who recounted their first-hand experiences.

A resident of Boro-Lengri since 2014, Temsu Jamir said that on February 18, the lone elephant intruded into his compound on its way up a hill, while feeding on plants in his garden as it passed through. As described by him, it was a wakeful night, keeping watch and making fire in the hope it would keep the pachyderm at bay. The elephant left around 4:00 am. 

Jamir, who had cut down a banana grove in his compound, said that most often, elephants cause no harm to humans while going its way, only to add that a sense fear is always there. 

Another resident who recently moved to Boro-Lengri, said the bursting crackers in the dead of the night is enough to ignite fear. “We are scared too, because we have children,” said the young mother, while also adding, “But it is their habitat we humans have encroached.”

Lujina, who settled at Taro Bosti last year, said, “We tend to panic when the elephant comes. It doesn’t actually harm anyone, but there’s so much fear when we are in close proximity.” 

On February 11, she said that there was an intrusion into her compound, the elephant consuming whatever it could find before heading for the adjoining houses. The elephant finally left around 3:00 am.

The elephant shouldn’t be confronted, said Lujina, and added, “One should just remain calm and go about the other way.” While stating that lives have also been lost, she said that Balijan and Kharmati have been the most affected areas.

Rita, another resident said that on most occasions, the elephant targets the vegetables from her kitchen garden. Except for the one time, when the elephant destroyed one of their tenant’s room. The tenants left after that, she added. 

“We cannot go to markets in the evening. We cannot rest assured. We don’t know what might happen,” she said, while recalling an incident last year when a shop was destroyed.

According to her, when the elephants come in a herd, they do not pose much threat but “It is the lone elephant that is dangerous.”

She stated that the residents had so far not informed the wildlife department.

Meanwhile, a vegetable vendor’s house is reported to become victim every year. The vendor’s wife narrated a traumatic experience, last year, when her husband was toppled off the bed by an elephant. She and her children were fortunate to have escaped to safety though the back entrance.  She said that some people claiming to be from the Wildlife division, Assam visited their house after the incident and assured to provide compensation. However, no help has so far been received till date, she added.

The wildlife division of Assam couldn’t be contacted during the filing of this report.