Morung Express News
Wokha | January 27
Wild elephants made an unexpected intrusion into the Tsungiki Village settlement area, particularly entering the kitchen garden of E. Nyimtsemo Kikon. The incident, which took place around 7 PM Saturday, was captured on video and showed one of the elephants calmly devouring banana stems from Kikon’s garden.
Kikon expressed concerns over the increasing presence of elephants near human habitation. “We are afraid of living alongside these giants, even though they appear calm,” he said. Despite the elephants' gentle nature, Kikon acknowledged the potential for conflict, as their habitat increasingly overlaps with human settlements. He mentioned that a house was damaged by an elephant on the same day and that two elephants had been spotted in the area for nearly a week, feasting on the local banana crops.
In the video footage, Kikon can be heard calmly instructing the elephant to eat the bananas and leave without causing harm. Standing just 30 feet away, Kikon used a torchlight to guide the elephant to the remaining bananas in his garden. His brave interaction with the animal highlights the delicate balance villagers must maintain when living in close proximity to wildlife.
The presence of elephants in residential areas raises concerns about the safety of both villagers and wildlife, as human-animal conflict remains a pressing issue in many regions where wild elephants roam.
