Human-elephant conflict: 118 persons, 29 jumbos dead since last year in Assam

Reports stated, 73 persons died in 2022, while 45 persons lost their lives this year.

Picture used for representative purpose

Shrinking forest cover has not only led to environmental concerns but has also triggered a severe human-elephant conflict, in Assam.

The gravity of the situation can be gauged from the fact that 118 persons have lost their lives since last year, while 29 jumbos too have died owing to the conflict.

Reports stated, 73 persons died in 2022, while 45 persons lost their lives this year.

21 gentle giants were killed in 2022. This year, 8 jumbos have died so far. The jumbo deaths occurred after they were either hit by trains, electrocution, falling into uncovered pits or lightning strikes. There have been instances of pachyderms being poisoned.

Assam Forest and Environment Department officials said that 71 elephants including calves, were killed in 2021 due to aforesaid factors.

Assam (5,719) has the second highest population of wild elephants after Karnataka (6,049), according to a 2017 census.

According to the India State of Forest Report-2019, Assam has only 36.11 percent of forest cover out of the total geographical area of 78, 438 sq km.

The Assam Government is doing its bit to protect the jumbos and reduce the instances of man-elephant conflict.

Among the different methods adopted to reduce such misfortunes include, anti-depredation squads, erection of solar-powered electric fences to prevent elephants from moving towards human habitations, and patrolling to monitor their movement.

In 2018, the Indian Railways tried to mitigate the situation by keeping elephants away from railway tracks by setting up devices near the tracks and amplifying the sound of bees.
While different stakeholders are making the best efforts to prevent such conflicts, the need for preserving the natural habitat for elephants is the need of the hour, since the jumbos often stray into human habitation in search of food.

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