NAGALAND: HUMAN-ELEPHANT CONFLICT IN WOKHA DISTRICT

12 July 2018:

As per the report, received from District Forest Officer (DFO) Wokha, Zuthunglo Patton IFS, Human-Elephant Conflict (HEC) in Wokha District is on the rise which is increasing year by year. The nationwide Synchronized Elephant Population Estimation 2017 report by the Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate change, GOI, Nagaland reported elephant population of 446 and elephant density/km² of 0.45 in the region which is the second highest density/km² after Karnataka.

Due to increasing reports of incidences of HEC, a joint assessment was carried out in April 2018 by the District Level Committee for assessment of the loss of human life/domestic animals/crops/properties by wild animals for compensation in the District.

The assessment showed that this year alone, 165 families belonging to 8 (eight) villages of New Changsu, Ekhoyan, Old and New Riphyim, Wokha village, New Wokha, Seleku and Koio were affected by the presence of elephants in these areas/fields. The crops or property damaged were paddy, banana, pineapple, orange, sugarcane, vegetables, yongchak, betel nut, rubber, papaya, jackfruit, granary, farm huts, piggery, poultry, etc. amounting to more than Rs. 17 (Seventeen) lakhs which could only be partially reimbursed by the wildlife wing of the Forest Department this year.

The most recent reports of HEC in the month of June and July 2018 is from the villages of Old Riphyim, New Riphyim, Old Changsu and Mungya affecting 97 farmers and the GMS building at Mungya which have been verified by the Department. The crops/property damaged included paddy fields, vegetables, banana, farm huts, rubber, etc.

With an ever-increasing human population leading to increasing fragmentation of habitat for the elephants, incidences of human injury or deaths, crop raids, poaching/hunting of elephants will only increase. Wokha District having a total geographical of only 1628 sq. km and supporting a staggering150-180 nos. of elephants all over the district, it not only indicates a bleak future for the farmers and rubber cultivators but also for the survival of these heritage animals in Wokha unless these issues are seriously addressed.