Training on elephant conflict mitigation at Wokha village

In response to the growing human-elephant conflict in Wokha district, a special training programme on mitigation strategies was held on September 6, 2025 at Wokha Village Community Hall. The event was organised by Hammock Resort and attended by village leaders from Wokha and New Wokha villages, with elephant conflict expert Dr. Rudra as the resource person.
Advisor to the chief minister and proprietor of Hammock Resort, Dr. Chumben Murry, termed the situation a serious concern, citing a recent fatal incident in a neighbouring village.
He said elephant populations in Nagaland have increased significantly over the past two decades, posing threats to both lives and livelihoods. Quoting departmental data, Dr. Murry informed that Nagaland is home to an estimated 400–430 elephants, with nearly two-thirds concentrated in Wokha district. Of 128 villages surveyed, 89 reported conflict incidents.
While advanced solutions such as contraceptive implants and translocation are currently unfeasible, Dr. Murry said traditional methods and emerging technologies like solar-powered deterrents and GPS-based early warning systems are being introduced to mitigate the issue.
Resource person Dr. Rudra provided in-depth insights into elephant behaviour, explaining that understanding their moods, sounds, and movements can help reduce conflict. He noted that male elephants are responsible for most human casualties and elaborated on their heightened sensory abilities. Dr. Rudra also demonstrated low-cost smoke deterrent kits made from jute, cow dung, and dried chillies, and trained villagers on various mitigation techniques. The programme was attended by representatives from ZMU-II (Wokha Zone), ELEMENT Nagaland Project, and other apex bodies.