DEOMALI, 1 Aug: In yet another incident of human-elephant conflict, a man from Thalot village in Tirap district was killed by a wild elephant within his residential premises on the night of 31 July.
This was the third incident of its kind within a month.
On 9 July, former MLA Kapchen Rajkumar was trampled to death by a wild elephant during his morning walk. Three days ago (28 July), a 46-year-old tea garden labourer, identified as Dhiren Tati, was killed by a wild elephant in his residence in Aghuripather, between Namsang and Deomali.
Deomali Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF) Chimoy Simai visited Thalot village to meet the family of the victim and oversee necessary formalities.
The CCF acknowledged the challenges faced by the forest department, including shortage of personnel and the difficulty in tracking elephants in dense forests, especially during nighttime when these animals are most active.
Simai said that the Forest Department has taken measures, such as round-the-clock patrolling, distribution of firecrackers to drive out the jumbos, and compensation against crop damage and human or domestic animal deaths caused by wild elephants.
He said that proposals have been made for the construction of surveillance towers to monitor elephant movements and constructing elephant trenches with barbed wire fencing at strategic locations in the Deomali division.
Simai advised the local residents to remain vigilant and avoid leaving food waste, such as rice beer residues, bananas, and tapioca near their homes, as these attract elephants. He recommended planting king chilli plants around residential areas as a deterrent.
The CCF informed that an emergency coordination meeting is being convened shortly, involving the Forest Department, district administration, local chiefs, ZPMs, and gaon buras, to develop a comprehensive strategy to address the issue.
Deomali ZPM Wangphoon Lowang expressed serious concern over the prevailing situation, noting that fear of elephant attacks has disrupted daily activities, including farming and school attendance.
He urged the Forest Department to take immediate and effective measures to “identify and manage the rogue elephant responsible for these attacks.”
Lowang also recalled his previous initiative on 28 March this year, when he had filed a complaint regarding wild elephant encroachments in Deomali town, emphasizing the need for proactive measures to prevent further loss of human life.
The Forest Department reiterated its commitment to ensuring safety of the residents while balancing wildlife conservation efforts. The residents have been urged to report any elephant sightings promptly and adhere to safety guidelines issued by authorities.(DIPRO)
