Dimapur, July 12 (EMN): As per the report received from the district forest officer (DFO) of Wokha, Zuthunglo Patton, human-elephant conflict in Wokha district is on the rise and increasing year by year.
The assessment showed that this year, 165 families belonging to eight villages of new Changsu, Ekhoyan, old and new Riphyim, Wokha village, new Wokha, Seleku and Koio were badly affected. The crops or property damaged were paddy, banana, pineapple, orange, sugarcane, vegetables, yongchak, betel nut, rubber, papaya, jackfruit, granary, farm huts, piggery, poultry, etc. amounting to more than INR 17 lakh which could only be partially reimbursed by the wildlife wing of the Forest department this year, the report stated.
The most recent reports of human-elephant conflict in the month of June and July were from old and new Riphyim, old Changsu and Mungya, affecting 97 farmers and GMS building at Mungya which have been verified by the department, it was informed.
Due to increasing reports of incidences, a joint assessment was carried out in April 2018 by the district level committee for assessment of the loss of human life, domestic animals, crops or properties by wild animals for compensation in the district, DFO informed.
As per the nationwide Synchronized Elephant Population Estimation 2017 report by the Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate change, GOI, Nagaland has an elephant population of 446 and elephant density/km² of 0.45 which is the second highest density/km² after Karnataka.
With an ever-increasing human population leading to increasing fragmentation of habitat for the elephants, incidences of human injuries or deaths, crop raids, poaching / hunting of elephants will only increase, the
Wokha district having a total geographical of only 1628 sq. km and supporting a staggering numbering from 150-180 of elephants all over the district it not only indicates a bleak future for the farmers and rubber cultivators but also for the survival of these heritage animals in Wokha unless these issues are seriously addressed, it stated.
