Assam: Once again, wild elephants made aggressive by group of humans in Morongi

A CORRESPONDENT

BOKAKHAT:  Among the various burning issues faced by the state, the conflict between elephants and humans has emerged as a serious and alarming concern in recent times. News reports of elephants destroying homes, ravaging fields, and even killing people have become almost a daily headline. To put it bluntly, wild elephants are gradually transforming into aggressive creatures.

In areas like Numaligarh and especially in the tea garden zones of Morongi, it has been observed that a group of youths was cruelly provoking elephants that have taken shelter there. As a result of such actions, the police arrested two youths in Morongi recently. Tragically, one youth was killed by a wild elephant.

By nature, elephants are known to be calm and gentle animals. Perhaps that’s why humans have been able to tame them over the years, eventually making them an inseparable part of human society. From the ancient epics like the Ramayana and the Mahabharata to the various periods of recorded history, we find numerous references to the use of elephants. Whether in war, transportation, or other heavy-duty tasks before the advent of modern science and technology, elephants were indispensable.

Even today, we occasionally see domesticated elephants walking along roads. In places like Kaziranga National Park and other tourist destinations, ‘elephant safaris’ using tamed elephants are popular. With its massive body, large head, fan-like ears, and long trunk, the elephant is an attractive and endearing creature. There’s also a deep spiritual reverence for elephants among many people. In fact, many regard the elephant as an earthly embodiment of God in this modern age.

But the same elephant has now taken on a terrifying form, posing a significant threat to human life and property. The real concern now is: what are the underlying causes behind this shift? Why do elephants now seem to despise humans? This is a deeply concerning and a serious issue that demands reflection.

 In recent times, horrifying footage of elephants killing humans in broad daylight, captured on camera, has become easily accessible through electronic and social media. A recent viral video showed one such tragic incident. It seems as though humans themselves, by provoking herds of elephants, are inviting their own doom.

Elephants that take temporary shelter in a forest or tea estate during the day are often surrounded by people who throw stones, firecrackers, or even crude bombs to scare and agitate them. At night, when elephants venture out, they are encircled.

Also Read: Assam: Wild elephant wreaks havoc in Marangi

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