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WOKHA — Human-elephant conflict continues in Wokha district, which is home to an estimated 150-180 of wild elephants.
Longla village Chairman, NribemoNgullie, informed that a herd of approximately 18 wild elephants rampaged through agricultural land on the night of August 6, destroying crops and farmers' huts.
He said that 32 farmers suffered losses due to the attack, as the elephants decimated fields that were yet to be harvested.
According to Ngullie, wild elephants have been present in the area for the past four years, impacting the livelihoods of farmers every year.
He added that the village council has appealed to the concerned department for intervention, to mitigate the human-elephant conflict, as the villagers' primary source of livelihood – agriculture – is at risk.
Thungbeno, a farmer from Longla village and one of the victims of the recent elephant attack, shared that villagers have been facing immense hardship due to the destruction of their paddy fields, sugarcane crops, farms, and huts every year.
She explained that the village relies heavily on agriculture, which enables them to send their children for higher education. However, the persistent presence of wild elephants over the years has disrupted their farming activities, posing a significant challenge to their livelihood and jeopardising their children's future, she added.
Thungbeno lamented that the meagre compensation provided by government department after such incidents does little to alleviate their plight, as the farmers invest a year of hard work for their survival and future needs.
Also read: Wild tuskers destroy standing crops in Wokha