There have been several incidents of human-elephant conflict (HEC) in Wokha district, leading to damage to properties, paddy fields, vegetables, farm huts, crops like rubber, etc.
With a total geographical area of only 1,628 sq km, Wokha is home to a staggering 160-180 elephants, indicating a bleak future not only for farmers and rubber cultivators, but also for survival of these majestic animals in the district. Following are the excerpts of an interview with Wokha divisional forest officer (DFO) WM Sivachar.
NP: How many HECs were reported in the last one year?
DFO: In 2022-23 there were 867 affected persons, two elephant deaths, one human death and in 2023-24 there were only one each human and elephant deaths reported till date.
NP: Has any survey been carried out to find out elephant population in the district? If yes, how is it carried out?
DFO: Survey was conducted in September 2022 for the whole state, which included collection of DNA samples through dung collection and submitted to Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun. The report of this survey is awaited and will be released by Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change, Government of India.
NP: What is the current elephant population?
DFO: Earlier, All India Synchronised Elephant Population Estimation 2017 estimated 446 elephants for the entire state of Nagaland, though there is no district level break-up. However, as per the experience of officers and staff in the field, we estimate the presence of 160-180 elephants in Wokha district.
NP: What are the measures taken to prevent HEC in the area?
DFO: The Forest Department has been working to contain HEC through a combination of short and long-term measures. Short-term measures include support to alternative livelihood activities, capacity building to deal with conflict and training the villagers in elephant repellent techniques, construction of elephant watch towers, compensation for damages and ex gratia for any human injury/killing etc. For long-term management, awareness creation and generating sensitivity has been the key focus. A study under the KfW (Kreditanstalt fur Wiederaufbau), a German bank, sponsored Forest and Biodiversity Management in the Himalayas Project to determine the movement of elephants in Wokha and adjoining areas is proposed to be undertaken by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) for devising long term plan.
In 2017, the Government has notified damage by wildlife as disaster under the State Disaster Management Act, thereby making the loss from wildlife eligible for payment from the State Disaster Management Fund.
The use of immuno-contraceptives to control population of elephants in conflict-prone areas has been stayed by the Supreme Court. The Ministry is trying to get the stay vacated.
If permitted again, immuno-contraceptives can be a viable option in hilly areas like Nagaland to control elephant population.
About 130 community reserves (CR) have been notified in the state, which received financial help from the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change for wildlife protection. This has helped increase habitat for wildlife in the state.
The department is working to secure Central funding of revival and management of elephant corridors with Assam, thus reviving connectivity with Assam and reducing pressure in Nagaland.
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has also been working on the preparation of National Elephant Management Plan based on inputs from experts which will help in better management of conflict areas.
NP: How are ex-gratia extended to the victims?
DFO: Ex-gratia and compensation at present are given through funds received from the Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change through Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats – Project Elephant and Sub Tribal Plan. District Disaster Management Authority fund is dispatched as and when it is available.
In future, as part of streamlining, area/sub-division level compensation committees in Wokha district will look into compensation/ex-gratia applications.
NP: In which areas HEC generally take place?
DFO: At present, approximately 89 out of 135 villages in Wokha have elephant presence.
NP: How many forest rangers have been employed to check HEC?
DFO: For field-level duty across the district, there are 27 executives/field personnel in Wokha Forest Division—DFO Wokha office two forester-II and four forest guards; Wokha Range— one range forest officer (RFO), one each Forester-I and II and three forest guards; Doyang Beat– one RFO and three forest guards; Merapani and Baghty Range– one RFO (ACF holding charge) each and two forest guards each; Changpang Beat—one deputy ranger and one forest guard and Liphanyan Beat—one RFO, one Forester-I and one forest guard.
Also, there are personnel from Wildlife Wing (especially Dimapur Wildlife Division headed by Wildlife Warden) having jurisdiction of Wokha who operate in the field in case of HEC issues. One personnel at Merapani and Wokha each, additional 15 personnel have been deployed from various territorial divisions to assist in HEC related works recently.
NP: Are forest guards well equipped?
DFO: No, they are not so well equipped and face logistical issues.
NP: How can farmers inform Forest Department on presence of elephants?
DFO: At present, the information is received from villagers through anti-depredation squad members/village councils/other village functionaries directly to Wokha Forest Division or Dimapur Wildlife Division or through the district administration.