The human-elephant conflict in Wokha escalates as wild elephants destroy farmland and huts, forcing farmers to abandon their fields amid fear and lack of support.
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WOKHA — The human-elephant conflict in Wokha district continues to escalate, with repeated incidents of wild elephants destroying agricultural land, crops, farmhouses, and plantations.
In Lakhuti village, particularly in areas around Sotsü Chenphen and Tchusuli, wild elephants launched severe attacks on two separate occasions—on May 23 and again on July 7—resulting in extensive damage to farmland owned by eight farmers.
Speaking over the phone, Khontsen Yanthan, a GB in Lakhuti village, confirmed that a herd of ten elephants, including a calf, is currently stationed near the affected areas.
He expressed rising fear and anxiety among villagers, warning that any direct encounter could prove fatal.
Paddy fields, rubber plantations, and various cash crops were reportedly destroyed in the incidents.
Also read: Nagaland: Human-wildlife conflict deepens in Wokha amid elephant intrusions
Yanthan noted that Forest Department officials visited the site on May 25. During the inspection, affected farmers appealed for solar lighting installations, hoping night illumination might help deter elephant raids.
However, Yanthan lamented that despite their appeals, the department failed to provide any immediate support.
The verification team only assured them that their requests would be forwarded to higher authorities.
With no viable alternatives, many farmers have begun abandoning their fields—a troubling sign for a community that relies entirely on agriculture for survival, he added.
In another section of Wokha district, wild elephants reportedly caused fresh destruction to farmhouses, paddy fields, and betel nut plantations.
At the Nzhü Project, nine farmhouses and several betel nut plots were destroyed—likely on June 28 or 29. The damages occurred over the weekend, while farmers had returned home for rest and Sunday services. They discovered the destruction upon resuming work Monday morning.
Meanwhile, in Totsu village, one farmhouse and three agricultural plots—including areca nut and paddy fields—were also affected.