Assam Launches ‘Gaja Mitra’ to Help Curb Human-Elephant Conflict

Guwahati: In a move to curb the escalating human-elephant conflict in Assam, authorities have launched ‘Gaja Mitra’, a dedicated initiative aimed at protecting both local communities and the state’s majestic elephants. 

The programme is being rolled out across five of the most affected districts — Goalpara, Baksa, Udalguri, Sonitpur, and Nagaon — where frequent elephant incursions have led to crop damage, property loss, and sometimes, tragic human and animal fatalities.

The Gaja Mitra initiative takes a multi-pronged approach. One of its core strategies is ecological, focusing on the creation of greener, more hospitable forests to ensure elephants have ample food and migratory corridors within the wild. By restoring natural habitats, officials hope to reduce the need for elephants to venture into human settlements in search of food.

Technology, too, plays a key role. AI-powered camera traps have been deployed as silent sentinels throughout the forests, capable of detecting elephant movement and sending real-time alerts to nearby villages.

This smart surveillance system aims to provide communities with enough time to prepare, react, or evacuate if necessary, reducing the risk of surprise encounters. (IANS)

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