Elephants create havoc in Kokrajhar villages (Guwahati)

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Mon, Feb 3, 2025 9:19 PM

Elephants create havoc in Kokrajhar villages (Guwahati)
Tathagata Bhattacharjee, Times of India
February 3, 2025

Elephants from the Parbatjhora division of Assam's Kokrajhar district have
been creating significant disturbances for local villagers. These
pachyderms have been entering homes in search of food, causing substantial
damage to property.

The elephants were spotted in the Bisubasra area within the Khoraghat range
during two successive days. According to Khoraghat range officer Sahanur
Alom Seikh, dispersing these elephants requires three to four hours of
effort. "We often rely on torches to guide them out, which is time taking.
However, we have raised our concern with the DFO, and arrangements are
being made to acquire equipment that will help manage the situation more
effectively and safely," the officer said.

Various villages near the Mahamaya Reserve Forest (RF), including
Maorijhora, Sataguri, and Panbari, have noticed regular visits from these
elephant herds residing in the RF. Range officers report that these visits
have increased notably in the past four to five years, contrary to their
previous rarity. "Over the years, the movement of these elephants has
decreased. They once travelled from the Goma range to the Khoragat range in
search of food, but in recent years, they no longer make that journey and
instead they stay in the Mahamaya reserve forest, frequently making visit
nearby villages for sustenance," the range officer added.

The range officer further said previous feeding practices by villagers
altered the elephants' natural behaviour. This has resulted in the animals
becoming dependent on human-provided food, leading to increased incursions
into villages and damage to paddy fields. "We have prohibited the villager
from providing the food, but they have frequented their visits and despite
the lack of proper equipment, we along with the villagers have to take
efforts in driving them away," the officer said.

Officials have initiated awareness programmes to tackle this situation.
These sessions aim to inform villagers about elephant behaviour and the
adverse effects of providing them food.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/guwahati/elephants-create-havoc-in-kokrajhar-villages/articleshow/117894156.cms

Elephants create havoc in Kokrajhar villages (Guwahati) Tathagata Bhattacharjee, Times of India February 3, 2025 Elephants from the Parbatjhora division of Assam's Kokrajhar district have been creating significant disturbances for local villagers. These pachyderms have been entering homes in search of food, causing substantial damage to property. The elephants were spotted in the Bisubasra area within the Khoraghat range during two successive days. According to Khoraghat range officer Sahanur Alom Seikh, dispersing these elephants requires three to four hours of effort. "We often rely on torches to guide them out, which is time taking. However, we have raised our concern with the DFO, and arrangements are being made to acquire equipment that will help manage the situation more effectively and safely," the officer said. Various villages near the Mahamaya Reserve Forest (RF), including Maorijhora, Sataguri, and Panbari, have noticed regular visits from these elephant herds residing in the RF. Range officers report that these visits have increased notably in the past four to five years, contrary to their previous rarity. "Over the years, the movement of these elephants has decreased. They once travelled from the Goma range to the Khoragat range in search of food, but in recent years, they no longer make that journey and instead they stay in the Mahamaya reserve forest, frequently making visit nearby villages for sustenance," the range officer added. The range officer further said previous feeding practices by villagers altered the elephants' natural behaviour. This has resulted in the animals becoming dependent on human-provided food, leading to increased incursions into villages and damage to paddy fields. "We have prohibited the villager from providing the food, but they have frequented their visits and despite the lack of proper equipment, we along with the villagers have to take efforts in driving them away," the officer said. Officials have initiated awareness programmes to tackle this situation. These sessions aim to inform villagers about elephant behaviour and the adverse effects of providing them food. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/guwahati/elephants-create-havoc-in-kokrajhar-villages/articleshow/117894156.cms