The Kachugaon Forest Division, part of the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC), initiated an awareness campaign to foster harmony between forest communities and wildlife, specifically addressing human-elephant conflicts in Assam. The program’s inauguration took place at the Thaisoguri Forest Rights Act (FRA) village under the Sanfan Range, emphasizing the importance of minimizing conflicts with wild elephants and promoting peaceful coexistence. Various stakeholders, including forest officials, wildlife experts, security agencies, and community leaders, gathered to strategize ways to mitigate human-elephant conflicts near the Raimona National Park.
Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Sonali Ghosh, during her address, underscored the crucial role of local communities in wildlife conservation and advocated for practices that enhance safety and reduce encounters with elephants. She stressed the significance of collaboration between the Forest Department and residents to maintain ecological balance, recognizing the community’s support in preserving the biodiversity of Raimona National Park. Experts shared practical approaches to mitigate human-elephant conflicts, such as early warning systems, protection of agricultural lands, and raising awareness in forest fringe villages.
Residents were advised to promptly alert authorities upon spotting elephant movements near human settlements to ensure safety for both people and elephants. The program witnessed active participation from villagers sharing their experiences of elephant-induced crop damage and property loss, seeking sustainable solutions to the recurring issue. Notable attendees included Chief Scientist Kameswar Das, Senior Head Scientist Porna Sharma, Major Pratap Singh Rathore, Divisional Forest Officer Mustafa Ali Ahmed, and Second-in-Command Shree Jeet Singh, among others.
The Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC), established under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, governs the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) in western Assam, bordering Bhutan and West Bengal, encompassing districts like Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baksa, and Udalguri.
