Elephant herd takes shelter in Ruchan village; villagers urged to stay cautious

A herd of wild elephants has temporarily settled in Ruchan village, Bhandari Sub-Division, Wokha district, following the birth of a calf. Elephants are highly protective of their young and tend to stay in one place until the newborn is strong enough to travel.
Villagers are concerned as the herd has entered plantation fields, causing severe damage to farmland, affecting their livelihoods.
Wildlife Warden Tokaho Kinimi, informed Nagaland Post that a Wildlife Crime Control Unit has been deployed to assess the situation. The herd has split into four groups, and field staff are camping in the area, monitoring their movement. Authorities are evaluating whether additional teams are needed to prevent further conflict.
Officials plan to coordinate with villagers to assess the extent of the damage and develop short-term and long-term safety measures for both humans and elephants. Kinimi urged villagers to remain cautious and follow authorities’ instructions. He advised them to limit movement in forested areas between 8 am and 4 pm, as elephants are generally less active during this time.