Instances of wild elephants straying into farmland and human settlements have escalated in Nagaland, particularly in the Wokha district, resulting in damage to property, crops, and homes, as well as loss of human lives and wildlife.
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Instances of wild elephants straying into farmland and human settlements have escalated in Nagaland, particularly in the Wokha district, resulting in damage to property, crops, and homes, as well as loss of human lives and wildlife. Amid frequent elephant attacks, including three deaths in the last three years, farmers are afraid to enter their farms and paddy fields, which are their primary source of livelihood. They have found themselves caught between the threat to life posed by the jumbos and the need to survive. People of Wokha district are affected the most, as it is home to more than 200 wild elephants. Given the district's geographical area of just 1,628 sq. km, this presents an unmanageable situation, sparking serious deliberation both within political and administrative circles and beyond. Achumbemo Kikon, the sitting MLA from the Bhandari constituency, has put up the issue for discussion during the 7th Session of the 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly held in September last year and again in the ongoing budget session. Speaking during Zero Hour of the assembly session on Tuesday, Kikon told the House that many farmers in his constituency have abandoned their paddy fields and farms because of the frequent intrusion and rampaging by wild elephants. He went on to say that several options have been explored to address the issue, including the cultivation of Jatropha plants, which are unpalatable to elephants. This proposal offers dual benefits – to mitigate human-elephant conflict by using the plant as a natural barrier while providing a source of income for the people, as its seeds can be used for biofuel.
While Jatropha plantations can deter the jumbos from entering farms, a multi-faceted approach that includes both short-term and long-term strategies is essential for mitigating the issue. Human-animal conflict is on the rise worldwide. In India, a total of 2,841 persons were killed in wild animal attacks in 16 states between 2019 and 2024, including 2,727 fatalities due to elephant attacks, as per the central government report. What is even more worrying is the rising trend of such incidents. We should acknowledge the fact that human-wildlife conflict is primarily driven by human activities like urbanisation, agricultural expansion and developmental works that lead to habitat fragmentation. These aspects should not be ignored while framing strategies to tackle this growing menace. While measures like warning systems, electric fencing, restoration of natural habitats, and regulation of human activities can reduce conflicts, it is vital to identify and protect the elephant corridors to allow their free and safe movement as well as to promote their genetic diversity. We can't afford to ignore this issue for much longer.