Wokha human-elephant conflict: Tiyi Wildlife Conservation Society calls for urgent response

Wokha, 20 September (MTNews): On the night of 19 September 2023, a herd of wild elephants infiltrated the paddy fields near Nrung Longidang Village in Wokha district once again, leaving behind a trail of destruction and devastating losses for local farmers.

Amidst ongoing efforts to mediate the rising tensions between rampaging wild elephants and distressed farmers in the district, the Tiyi Wildlife Conservation and Animal-Human Conflict Control Society (TWC & A-HCCS) has issued an urgent appeal to the district administration and relevant authorities. They have called for the formation of a dedicated team tasked with mitigating the escalating human-elephant conflict in Wokha.

The TWC & A-HCCS has called upon the state government to intervene urgently, with the aim of preventing further damage and coming to the aid of farmers who find themselves at the mercy of these wild pachyderms. Their appeal includes a request for effective deterrents and preventive measures to be put in place immediately.

Khyolamo Humtsoe, the Convenor of the Society, and Zujanbemo Kithan, General Secretary, have jointly issued a press note, emphasizing the necessity for the concerned department to take action. They have urged the authorities to visit the conflict zone and depute forest officials to assist the affected aggrieved villagers in handling the situations promptly and assess the loss first hand at these trying times.

Official delegation visits human-elephant conflict areas in Wokha District

Commissioner and Secretary Environment, Forest and Climate Change Department Y Kikheto Sema IAS accompanied by Vedpal Singh IFS, PCCF and the Chief Wildlife Warden along with Pangloi, PA to Forest Minister of Nagaland CL John; Suman W M Sivachar IFS, DFO Wokha Forest Division; Tokaho Kinimi IFS, Wildlife Warden, Dimapur Wildlife Warden; representative officers from Wokha Administration and Wokha Police of respective jurisdictions; and GIS team visited the elephant affected areas in Wokha district on 19 and 20 September 2023.

The field visit was undertaken to take stock of the human-elephant conflict and meet the affected communities of the area. On 19 September, the officials visited Mekokla village and had a detailed interaction with the Village elders and leaders.