Worst Man-Wild Elephant Conflict in Udalguri District
A CORRESPONDENT
TANGLA: A herd of wild elephants that descended to Udalguri from the Indo-Bhutan border hills neighbouring Udalguri enters villages including Dimakuchi, Rajagarh, Nalapara, Borengajuli, Dharmajuli, Tankibasti, Bholatar and created terror among the residents for a fortnight.
The villages fall under Nonai Forest Division in the Udalguri district. "The villages are frequented by wild jumbos as often as not and the villagers have to spend sleepless nights. Every year, the elephants come and spark terror in our village," said Tirtha Sarma, a resident of Dimakuchi.
Bandana Orang (47) an inhabitant of Tankibasti village under Dimakuchi P.S was trampled to death by a wild jumbo on Sunday night. Wildlife conservationists strongly lamented the passive role of the Forest department. "The Forest Department has no plan and policy to tackle the man-elephant conflict. I strongly urge the Assam government to formulate policies taken in some of the south Indian states, including electric fencing," said wildlife activist Nabajyoti Baruah.
Though there are electric fencing in some areas of Khalingduar Reserve Forest and Bornadi Wildlife Sanctuary, yet the lack of timely repairing has made them almost non-functional.