ITANAGAR, 18 Nov: The Pakke Tiger Reserve Foundation (PTRF), in collaboration with the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), on Friday distributed rice to 69 families who were affected by human-elephant conflicts in Pakke-Kessang district this year.
As many as 69 quintals of rice were distributed to the families in Seijosa, located close to the Pakke Tiger Reserve in the district, a WTI official informed.
“The distribution was carried out as part of the ‘grain-for-grain’ initiative for 2022-’23,” Panjit Basumatary, manager of the Centre for Bear Rehabilitation & Conservation (CBRC) under WTI, said.
Local MLA Biyuram Wahge distributed the rice in the presence of Pakke-Kessang DC Tayek Pado, Divisional Forest Officer Satyaprakash Singh, and Seijosa Range Forest Officer Rubo Tado.
The WTI’s ‘wild aid programme’ facilitated the distribution of grains, with support from the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation.
India has around 101 government notified elephant corridors, and over 400 human lives are lost due to conflicts with the gentle giants annually, while around 100 jumbos are killed in response, Basumatary said.
The WTI developed the ‘grain-for-grain’ scheme with the aim to provide assistance to farmers and reduce instances of retaliations against elephants.
“Individuals living near Pakke Tiger Reserve are greatly impacted by issues of wildlife crop depredation. The initiative was part of a study funded by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, introduced in the reserve in 2005,” Basumatary said. (PTI)
