Dimapur, June 17 (EMN): In line with the awareness campaign on human-animal mitigation, by Forest department, under centrally sponsored Scheme- “Integrated development of wildlife habitats,” the awareness programme was conducted in the Conference Hall of the Additional Deputy Commissioner, Bhandari Sub-division, Bhandari on June 12.
At the programme, K. Caroline Angami, Wildlife Warden, Dimapur welcomed the participants and gave a brief background of the existing problem in the State.
The chief guest of the programme, ADC, Bhandari, Nuchumbemo Odyuo, appreciated continuity of the dialogue between public of Bhandari- Sub-division affected with human-elephant problem and the Forest department officials dealing with human- elephant conflict on behalf of the Government of Nagaland and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India.
He stated that big problems had been solved by having dialogues.
He informed that the existing elephant corridors, routes for movement of elephants, between Assam and Nagaland were blocked, both in Assam as well as in Nagaland, due to biotic interference.
The land of elephant corridors does not belong to the Government and at the same time the State Government does not have any fund to address the issue. There is no possibility of opening already blocked elephant corridors between Assam and Nagaland, he stated. ADC also appealed for conservation of flora and fauna in general and elephants in particular and urged for cooperation of the district administration to the Forest Department in addressing issue.
Chief Wildlife Warden, Satya Prakash Tripathi, briefed the genesis of human animal conflict prevalent in the State in general and in Wokha district in particular. He highlighted the policies of the State Government and the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Government of India. He also appealed protection of forest and wildlife and to contact forest officials immediately in case of damage of their crops, properties or human life.
On behalf of the affected public by elephants, C. Elithung Odyuo, president of LLRPO, shared existing problems faced by the public with wild elephants. He also represented the issues to the Forest Department for addressing. He also suggested blocking of entry routes of elephants and earmarked some areas to be compensated by the government.
The concerned villages agreed to discuss the issues and to submit proposal through the ADC, Dimapur.
Tsunseki, from Bhutan Glory Eco.Club, Fakkim, gave a brief background of the club and spoke on how there is no life of human beings without life of –wild animals. He deliberated on the conservation done in vicinity of Saramati and Fakim Wildlife Sanctuary by the people without any support from the Government.
The programme was followed by demonstration on elephant repellent by the officials of the Wildlife Crime Control Unit, Wildlife Division, Dimapur.
A similar programme was also conducted in Mokokchung on June 17.
The chief guest, E. Panger, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests & Head of Forests Force, deliberated on intrinsic relationship between human beings and animals. He stated that human life is not possible without wild animal. He briefed the causes of human-animal conflict and appealed the participants to protect wildlife for our survival.
Guest of the honour, Deputy Commissioner Mokokchung, Sushil Kumar Patel, IAS, appreciated the Forest department for organising the program and also requested the department to establish mechanism so that people can contact the department immediately after incidence of human- animal conflict for appropriated action. He briefed how compensation is paid for such incidence by the District Disaster Management Authority, Mokokchung. Further, he appealed to the people to insure their crops and domestic animals for getting compensation under the Prime Minister Crop Insurance Scheme by paying premium.
Chief Wildlife Warden, Satya Prakash Tripathi, in his key note address, highlighted the genesis of the human elephant conflict prevalent in the State and Mokokchung district in particular.
Sunep Imchen from Veterinary and Husbandry Department, Mokokchung, appealed the affected people to have solution of the problem by giving their land for opening the blocked elephant corridors for movement of elephants between Assam and Nagaland. He requested the Wildlife Wing of the Forest Department for publication of elephant repellent activities in local dialect for affected people.
Other speakers also shared suffer caused by wild elephants, payment of meagre compensation by the Government against damage of their crops by wild elephants.
