‘Humans are winning’: Nagaland forest minister sparks row over human-elephant conflict
‘Humans are winning’: Nagaland forest minister sparks row over
human-elephant conflict
Alice Yhoshü, Hindustan Times
September 14, 2023
In Nagaland, Wokha reportedly has the highest population of wild elephants,
and more than half of those are in Bhandari area, particularly in Merapani
range along the Assam border
Nagaland minister for environment, forest and climate change CL John
sparked a controversy on Tuesday with his comment on human-animal conflict
in the state assembly when he said “humans are winning” while talking about
deaths related to elephants in Wokha district, drawing condemnation from
environmentalists and citizens on social media.
“The report I’m getting is that humans are winning, so there’s nothing to
worry,” the minister said.
The minister, responding to Naga People’s Front MLA Achumbemo Kikon who
raised concerns on human-animal conflict particularly regarding wild
elephants in his constituency, made the remark citing that only eight
persons were killed against 12 wild elephant deaths in Wokha.
“It is very unfortunate and very unbecoming of a forest minister from a
global biodiversity hotspot to be so insensitive, disregarding lives, and
not comprehending the challenge and the issue at hand that human-animal
conflict exists,” Bano Haralu, an environmentalist, said.
“The minister’s tongue-in-cheek response to the query on the frequent
incidents of human-elephant conflict in Wokha district was not only
insensitive to the victims’ families, but also reveals the conviction Naga
leaders lack on the need to protect our natural resources through
sustainable livelihood and development modules and secure a future for
Nagas,” Haralu added.
Mmhonlumo Kikon, a former MLA from the district who is a keen
environmentalist himself said, “The statement on eight lives lost being a
win for the humans is unfortunate.”
He said the human-animal conflict, particularly involving wild elephants in
Wokha’s Bhandari area, has been going on for a long time ever since the
elephant corridor in the locality was intruded upon by various road
projects. He said that various agencies from the Centre have come forward
extending support.
“The basic premise is to find a solution to address the conflict and
coexist amid this challenge. The ratio (of deaths) need not be the basis of
this issue,” he told HT.
In Nagaland, Wokha reportedly has the highest population of wild elephants,
and more than half of those are in Bhandari area, particularly in Merapani
range along the Assam border.
On the shortage of forest personnel in the area, John said many staff
members are retiring but due to student activists demanding all
appointments be made through the state staff selection board, the
recruitment process is getting prolonged.
“When the candidates clear their interviews, we shall send the strongest of
them to that area. I give my assurance,” he said.
The minister also remarked that his department was preparing to issue a
special licence for “elephant trapping and capturing”, and training in this
regard will be given only to Bhandari MLA Achumbemo Kikon.
The latter took the banter well and commented that the minister appeared to
be in his own Tehok constituency in Mon district while the discussion was
about Bhandari division. He, however, pointed out that the state should
come up with a policy on the human-animal conflict, assessing the gravity
of the situation “in all seriousness”.
Video clippings of the minister’s remarks in the assembly were posted on
various online platforms and users condemned the insensitivity of the
comments.
“Only 8 died so don’t worry, is what he said. Lives don’t matter to the
minister,” a Facebook user commented, while another remarked, “8 precious
lives lost from Wokha district by wild elephants is nothing to our
honourable forest minister CL John.”
“The audacity to say only eight people were killed, followed by laughter
behind, is a shame indeed,” another user said.