DIMAPUR — The Wildlife Institute of India (WII) has been tasked with developing a strategic plan for mitigating human-elephant conflicts (HEC) in Wokha and Mokokchung districts of Nagaland under the Forest and Biodiversity Management in the Himalaya-Nagaland Project (FBMP), a KfW-funded project.
An update from the Forest department stated that a team of scientists from WII, led by Dr. AnukulNath, project investigator and wildlife conservation specialist, arrived in Kohima on August 24 and held an introductory and planning meeting.
The session was chaired by Supongnukshi, chief conservator of forests and project director of FBMP, which was attended by key officials from the Wildlife Wing of Wokha and Mokokchung Forest divisions as well as experts from the project management consultant and project management unit.
Following the meeting, the WII team travelled to Wokha on Sunday, where they would establish a base camp for the duration of their assignment.
Report stated that the scope of WII's work would encompass a comprehensive assessment of elephant distribution, population structure and demography. Additionally, the project aims to enhance the capacity of the Forest department staff and the local communities.
It mentioned that the ultimate goal was to develop a robust human-elephant conflict management plan tailored to the specific needs of affected areas in and around Wokha and Mokokchung districts.