A few days after the tragic death of a police official in Lohit district following an attack by a wild elephant, two villagers in Changlang district were attacked by an elephant on the outskirts of their village. One of the injured has been rushed to Dibrugarh in Assam, given the seriousness of his condition. These incidents indicate that human-elephant conflict in Arunachal Pradesh is becoming more frequent, raising urgent questions about coexistence.
As forests shrink and habitats fragment, elephants are driven closer to human settlements in search of food. Expanding roads and infrastructure projects have, to some extent, encroached upon traditional migration corridors. Environmental impact assessments in projects’ implementation must be taken seriously to safeguard the habitats of wild animals.
At the same time, communities living in vulnerable regions need support and training. Villagers must be equipped with knowledge of safe practices and coordinated responses during encounters with wildlife. Preventive measures such as solar fencing, bio-fencing, and watchtowers can help deter elephants without harming them. Technology, too, can play a role: early warning systems and monitoring tools can alert communities before animals go astray.
The state government must act decisively. The state must ensure not conflict but coexistence and the wellbeing of both its people and its elephants.