A Comprehensive Study of Human-Elephant Conflict in the ... · investigated to get a broader...

International Journal of Interdisciplinary Research in Science Society and Culture(IJIRSSC) Vol: 2, Issue:1, (June Issue), 2016 ISSN: (P) 2395-4345, (O) 2455-2909 © IJIRSSC

www.ijirssc.in 32

A Comprehensive Study of Human-Elephant Conflict

in the Bordering Areas of the Three Reserve Forests

of Lakhimpur District, Assam.

Ranjan Kr. Borah1, Nabami Bhuyan

2

1Associate Professor, Deptt.of zoology, North Lakhimpur College.

2Head, Deptt. of Geography, Lakhimpur Girls’ College.

ABSTRACT : A study was carried out for assessment of human-elephant conflict in the fringe villages

around three major reserve forests of Lakhimpur District of Assam, viz, Dulung, Kakoi and Ranga

reserve forest from 2012 to 2015. The records whatsoever available on human elephant conflicts of

forest department since 2001 onwards were also took into consideration during analysis. Conflict was

intense in the months from October to January and was mostly concentrated along the forest boundary

areas (fringed villages), decreasing with distance from the reserve forests. Crop damage occurred

during two seasons; paddy (the major crop) suffered the most due to raiding. Crop maturity and

frequency of raiding were positively correlated. Single bull elephants were involved in conflicts more

frequently than female herds while herds were involved in majority of crop raiding cases. Of the single

elephants were makhnas and tuskers. The average herd size recorded was 56 individuals, with group

size ranging up to 9. Mitigation measures presently adopted involve traditional drive-away techniques

including making noise by shouting, drum beating, bursting fire crackers and firing gun shots into the

air, and using torch light, and throwing burning torches. Some of the Tea Gardens along the boundary

have constructed concrete walls. Kunkis have been used in some cases. Machans are used for guarding

the crops. Combinations of methods are most effective. Family herds were easily deflected, while single

bulls were difficult to ward off. Affected villagers have suggested methods like regular patrolling by the

Forest Department officials along the forest boundary, erection of a concrete wall and electric fencing

along the boundaries.

Keywords: Alternative crop, Bio-fence, Conflict, Dulung, Kakoi, and Ranga reserve forest.

____________________________________________________________________________

I. Introduction:

The Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus), the giant pachyderm is on of the top categorized

mammalian species that falls in the list of scheduled I species. It was originally found from the

Tigris Euphrates valley in West Asia to Northern China in East Asia. India is the single country

that has the largest surviving population of elephants. There are at least about 25,000 wild

elephants in the forests of India. The distribution of wild elephants in India can be described

under four regions- Northern, North-eastern, central & Southern India [1]. The second highest

population is 12,000 in Myanmar & Sri Lanka [2]. The North-eastern India houses high bio-

diversity that has become part of a global biodiversity hotspot .The estimated population of

elephants is about 11,000, one of the largest populations in the Indian subcontinent [3]. On the


www.ijirssc.in Page 133

other hand only Assam is the abode of almost 20% of total elephant population of India. The

Himalayan foothills from northern west Bengal, to Arunachal Pradesh , through Assam

touching southern Bhutan, & Manas is the key conservation area in the north bank landscape,

along which one large population of about 4800-5800 elephants keep roaming .[4].

Almost 20% of total elephant populations of India are found in Assam out of which 35%

are spotted in Sonitpur & Lakhimpur district. Lakhimpur & Sonitpur districts bear 3 Elephant

Protected Areas out of a sum of 64 Elephant Protected Areas of India.

Therefore present distribution of this species is limited only to some tropical forest

areas of a few countries of Asia. Along with explosion of human population, deforestation and

shifting cultivation, fragmentation of its migratory route i.e. elephant corridor is also

influencing in the declination of the population.

Human-Elephant conflict refers to a range of direct & indirect negative interaction

between people and elephant which potentially harm both. The most exposed are crop damage

by elephant, injury & death to people and killing of the animal in turn

Human elephant conflict is a closely related problem of elephant conservation scenario.

With the decrease in forest cover, the conflict is becoming more serious by the day . Growing

human population, demands for cultivable lands & destruction of forest habitat for human

habitation all have resulted in serious human-elephant conflict in Assam [5].

Habitat loss is the single greatest threat to the survival of substantial numbers of wild

Asian elephant. The forest cover in NE India is disappearing at an alarming rate. More than

1000 km2 of forest are being destroyed annually. This has resulted in increasing incidence of

human elephant conflict to alarming an rate in Asian in the recent time [5].

The conflict problem is a cause for concern because it threatens to erode local support for

conservation in areas where human life & property are at high risk for destructions by wild

elephants.

Usually elephants do not confine to a particular area for a longtime. They tend to

migrate in a fixed route called the Elephant Corridor. They use this permanent path year after

year and sometimes generation after generation. These corridors always locate in deep forest

areas except for rare exceptions. But now these elephant corridors are in a great threat.

Fragmentation on the elephant corridor is now a huge problem, effect of which now results in

the modification of characters of the pachyderms.

II. Objectives of the Study: 1. The main objective of the proposed work aims to:

2. asses the present status of the corridors vis a vis elephant usage, land use pattern and biotic

interference

3. Identify the status of human-elephant conflict in and around the corridors.

4. Impact of human-elephant conflict on certain socio-economic aspects of the inhabitant, those

facing this problem.



5. formulate action plan for the protection of the corridors and reduction of human-wildlife

conflict

III. Study Area:

The study area comprises the fringe area towards the southern side of the three

contiguous reserve forests in the Lakhimpur district of Assam viz. (a) Kakoi RF(b) Dulung RF

and(c) Ranga RF, which lies between 93o

54’27.38”E and 94o

15’58.23”E which are situated

to the northern most side of the district. The area mostly falls under the Himalayan foothills

region.

(a) Kakoi RF:- Covers an area of 4415.03 ha. Covering mostly riverrine and hilly terrain with

vegetation type ranging from riverrine grassland toT.R.F.

(b) Dulung RF:- Covers an area of 9900.03 ha. Covering mostly hilly terrain with vegetation

type ranging from deciduous toT.R.F.

(c) Ranga RF:- Covers an area of 8529.71 ha. Covering mostly riverrine and hilly terrain

with vegetation type ranging from riverrine grassland toT.R.F.

The villages selected for study are, Tarioni, padumani and Lalpani in Dulung R.F,Bokanallah,

Dirgha naharbari and kakoi Rajgarh in kakoi R.F and Kachajuli,Dhunaguri,Bhuyanpara and

Chensa Rajgarh in Ranga R.F.

Figure: 1. Lakhimpur District showing the location of reserve forests.



Fig: 2- Map of Dulung Reserve Forest. Fig:3- Map of Kakoi Reserve Forest.

Fig:3- Map of Ranga Reserve Forest.

III.Methodology:

Every conflict incident was considered as a sampling unit. Villages affected by elephant

depredation were visited. On the basis of raiding, a total of 10 villages within 3 K.M. range

from the reserve boundary were identified. The information of these conflicts was collected by

interviewing the local people or the farmers using Rapid rural Appraisal approach (chambers-

1994). The questionnaire sought information on Location of raided crops, types of crops

cultivated, extent of different crops cultivated, month of cultivation, composition of raiding

herds, frequency of raiding, extent of damage to the crop, mitigation methods used to deter

elephants and attitudes and expectations of local people towards human –elephant conflict

situations. During analysis, available historic incidents from 1999 onwards were also



investigated to get a broader picture of the nature of conflict [5].Details of such incidents were

obtained from the Divisional Forest Office, North Lakhimpur.

IV. Results and Discussion:

The intensity of conflict occurrence in the study area seems to be comparatively high in

contrast to other human elephant conflict areas of Assam. This is because the current paces of

disturbance factors like timber smuggling, grazing, and encroachment and over exploitation of

NTFP are causing serious crisis for the elephants in the area. During the period 2012 till 2015

there were more than 175 crop raiding cases, 56 household and other property damage cases

and 10 human death cases were reported. (Table 3). If the current pace of disturbance persists it

could cause serious crisis for elephants and humans in the near future. Some of The cases of

crop raiding, household and property damage of the previous years (2001 – 2006) were

collected from the forest department of Lakhimpur district. There may be some sort of biasness

in data maintenance regarding the Ex. Gratia claims. The cases of human deaths due to

elephants were well authenticated for use for better understanding of the status of human

elephant conflict situation in Lakhimpur district.

Patterns of Elephant Depredation:

1. Crop Annihilation

1. a. Distribution of crop raiding incidents:

Distribution of crop raiding incidents was not uniform, as few villages suffering

significantly more damage than the others. However, distance from the forest to the crop field

have some effect on crop raiding, as the fringe villages suffered more crop raiding incidents

than the rest. As the distance increases the conflict gradually decreases. Similar results were

obtained from the studies by Marak et.al[6], in Africa and Sukumar [1]in Assam. During their

study they observed the relationship of distance factor with crop raiding. The maximum

straying distance recorded in the study was 23 km. by a herd of 56 from Ranga RF to Bodati

Jamuguri in the year 2006.The general cases recorded is about 5 to 6 km. by the bull elephant.

Usually the herd restricts its area of raiding crops within 3 km. from the reserve forest. During

analysis 10 villages were identified that have crop raiding during 2212-2015. During this

period 4 villages near longer Ranga reserve forest suffered the highest occurrence of crop

damage. It was followed by Dirgha Naharani gaon near Kakoi reserve forest. The villages near

Dulung reserve forest are less affected in comparison to the others.

1.b. Raiding seasons & crop preferences

There are around 175 cases of crop raiding in the study period, which include raiding of

both field crops as well as backyard garden crops. The crop depredation mainly in case of

paddy, which is generally preferred by the elephants in this region, starts right from the

vegetative stage and continues till the crop gets maturity and reaches the harvesting stage.

However, the intensity of crop raiding attains the highest level as the crops get full maturity.

Generally the peak raiding moment arrives twice a year as the paddy harvesting time



approaches, once in June-August (for Ahu paddy) and another in October-to December (for

Sali paddy). During the months from February to April, intensity of crop raiding remains very

low. Because, February is the post-harvesting month, so it remains no longer attractive to the

elephants as most of the crop fields are cleared up and they remain unplanted till April. In

April, sowing of Ahu paddy starts and till the month of May the paddy remains in the

vegetative stage, which is although raided but preferred comparatively less by the elephants.

Among the garden crops, damages to Banana, Coconut and Beetle nut trees which are normally

more destructed by elephants rather than being eaten cause more economic loss to the farmers

due to their high market value (Table-2).

Table-1 Crop damage

Area/R.F. Village Crop type Area of damage

Harmutty Kachajuli Paddy 2 bigha

Harmutty Dhunaguri Paddy 2.5bigha

North Lakhimpur Tariyoni Paddy 1 bigha

Harmutty Dhunaguri Paddy 3.10bigha

Harmutty Chensa rajgarh Cerals 0.54bigha

Harmutty Kachajuli Paddy 1.2bigha

Harmutty Bhuyanpara Vegetables .3bigha

North Lakhimpur Dirgha rajgarh Paddy 2.2bigha

Harmutty Bhuyanpara Banana .2bigha

Harmutty Bhuyanpara Banana .57bigha


North Lakhimpur Padumani Ceral 1bigha


North Lakhimpur Lalpani Paddy 1.6bigha

North Lakhimpur Lalpani Vegetable .9bigha

North Lakhimpur Tarioni Paddy 4 bigha

North Lakhimpur Lalpani Paddy 2 bigha

Harmutty Bhuyanpara Banana 1bigha

Harmutty Chesa Rajgarh Paddy 7bigha

Harmutty Dhunaguri Banana 1 bigha

North Lakhimpur Kakoi Rajgarh vegetables .7bigha

Source: Field Survey



Table-2

List of different plants consumed/trampled/damaged by elephants in the villages around the reserve forests

of Lakhimpur district

Sl. No. Plants Parts consumed/

Trampled/Damaged

Season

1 Banana Whole plant Round the year

2 Jackfruit Fruit April-August

3 Pineapple Fruit, leaves June-July

4 Coconut Pulp Round the year

5 Sugarcane Entire plant Feb-March

6 Tapioca Leaves, root March-December

7 Pumpkin Fruits November- January

8 Summer squash Fruits August-September

9 Cabbage Entire plant October-February

10 Cauliflower Entire plant October-February

11 Tomato Entire plant/Trampled October-February

12 Squash Damaged April - October

13 Brinjal Damaged October-November

14 Potato Damaged November-December

15 Bamboo New shoots, leaves Round the year

16 Beetle nut Damaged Round the year

17 Jute (bitter variety) Entire plant/Trampled March-August

18 Gram (Kechari, Mug,

Green pea)

Trampled/Damaged November-February

19 Mustard Trampled/Damaged December-February

20 Chilli Trampled/Damaged October-November

21 Basmati (Paddy) Entire plant April-September

22 Ranjit (Paddy) Entire plant June-November

23 Moinaguri (Paddy) Entire plant June-November

24 Ahu (Paddy) Entire plant February-August

25 Sali (Paddy) Entire plant June-December

26 Chinese (Paddy) Entire plant March-June

27 Chinese boro (Paddy) Entire plant March-August

28 Bangla eri (Paddy) Entire plant March-November

29 Parimal (Paddy) Entire plant August-October




1. c. Raiding group size :

From the present study and the data available with Forest Department records we find out

the number of raiding group sizes in few instances. It has been found that the single animals

tend to raid crops significantly more number of times than the female led family herds. Singles

generally visit the villages and raid the crops on round the year basis, whereas the herds on

seasonal basis. The average herd size recorded was 56 with raiding group sizes ranging up to 9.

The single crop raiders are Makhnas (bull elephants).

2. Human injury and man slaughter by elephant:

Human injury and death by the raiding (rogue or disturbed) elephants is one of the very

crucial aspects of the human-elephant conflict. Although the annual number of human injury

and death cases at the hands of raiding elephants in Manas is comparatively less, there are

many incidents of frequent encounters between humans and elephants.

During 2012-2015 only ten death cases and 21other cases of human injury were reported

(table 3).Only the Makhnas were responsible for the cases of death and injury. The maximum

number of human death was reported during the year 2004 and the village under Harmutty

Range of Ranga Reserve Forest topped the list. Of the injury cases, 34% were major (fracture

of bone, head injury etc) and 66% minor (scratch, sprain etc.) . In a majority of the human

death/ injury cases the elephants responsible were either in the state of musth or injured..

However, there were some accidental encounters where humans and elephants were unaware

of each others presence due to obscurity at night.

Table-3

Human death due to man-elephant conflict.

Area/R.F. No of death M/F date time Name of the victim

Harmutty Range 1 M 16-04-2012 Arupjyoti borah

Harmutty Range 1 M 20-07-2012 Nagen Hazarika

Harmutty Range 1 M 06-11-2012 Jakaria Chandigiri

Harmutty Range 1 M 24-01-2013 Kolimai Das

Harmutty Range 1 M 25-04-2014 Indeswar Borah

Harmutty Range 1 M 26-04-2014 Tileswar Borah

Harmutty Range 1 M 09-05-2014 Magina Nag

North Lakhimpur Range 1 M 25-01-2014 Dilip Patir

North Lakhimpur Range 1 M 12-11-2015 Matiram kalamadi

Harmutty Range 1 F 23-11-2015 Shabitri Tamang


3 . Household and property damage:



Household and property damage by wild elephants is another aspect of human-elephant

conflict. The main cause behind majority of the house raiding cases was for stored paddy and

salt in the houses. However, there were some accidental cases also, where the elephants caused

damage to the household after being provoked by the villagers while trying to chase it off.

Damage to households and property occurred more or less through out the year with a

peak in winter season. This was found to coincide with the harvesting period of paddy. The

village Kachajuli and Bhuyanpara under Harmutty range of Ranga reserve forest reported the

highest number of house damage cases. It was followed by Tarioni and Lalpani, Dirgha

naharbari and Bokanallah of Dulung and Kakoi reserve forest. Maximum household and

property damage (70%) was caused by the makhnas, followed by herds (30%).

Table-4

Livestock damage

Area/R.F. Village/ G.P. Livestock Number Date Causes

Harmutty Bhuyanpara Cattle 1 10-05-2012 Breaking of cattle

yard by elephant

Harmutty Chensa Poultry 10 dead 16-11-2012 Complete destroy

of poultry house

Harmutty Kachajuli Piggery 2 21-11-2012 Kicking pig while

escaping from

human attack

North

Lakhimpur

Dirgha rajgarh Sericulture 1 bigha

completely

damaged

26-12-2014 Complete destroy

of one culture

room as well as

trees by elephant. Harmutty Kachajuli Cattle 2dead, 3

injured

10-06-2014 Destruction of

cattle yard.

Harmutty Kachajuli Poultry 15 10-06-2014 Complete destroy

of poultry house

North

Lakhimpur

Lalpani Cattle 2 10-11-2015 Knocking cattles

at paddy field

Harmutty Bhuyanpara Piggery 1 injured 15-12-2015 Kicking pig while

escaping from

human attack

Harmutty Chesa Rajgarh Cattle 1 21-12-2015 Knocking cattles

at paddy field


Mitigation Measures:



The methods used to ward off elephants in the fringes of the reserve forests include the

age old, traditional drive away techniques which include noise making activities like shouting,

drum beating, bursting fire crackers, firing gunshots into the air , using torch light, pelting

stones, and throwing burning fuel woods. Depending on the severity, Kunki (captive trained

elephants to drive away the raiders) operations are also provided by the forest department.

During the harvesting period, the farmers guard their crops every night from “tongis/machans

(temporary shelters built by the farmers during cropping seasons on the high trees) build near

the crop fields. Discussion with the villagers revealed that none of the active drive away

method is fully effective if used singly. Because, each single mitigation method may help a

little but would not, on its own, be sufficient to make much difference to the human elephant

conflict problem.[7] On the other hand, acting together, the whole “package of methods”

(synergism) may be more effective than the sum of its individual constituent parts. It probably

works because although problem elephants are very resourceful, if their intensions are hindered

or blocked in several different ways, most of them may give up trying. While family herds

could be deflected easily, the solitary bulls were always more difficult to ward off and required

lots of effort, time and man power as stated by the local farmers during the interview.

Views and Opinions of the local people

India has its own cultural heritage. The traditional, cultural and religious attitudes

towards wild animals make local people tolerant towards wild life, despite the damage to

crops, household and property damage .The general reverence towards plants and animals in

some Indian religions has often been reported to be the main reason for a positive attitude

towards wild life and nature reserves[8][9]. Though positive attitudes towards elephants still

persists among the fringe villagers [10], the majority, almost all (98%) of them expect more

intensive crop, human life and property saving initiatives from the forest department of Assam.

The families affected by human elephant conflict expressed their dis-satisfaction with the

current compensation process due to its lengthy and complicated procedure. It is also reported

that they are paid much less than the actual amount they claim and sometimes they do not even

get any response despite repeated follow-ups. During the survey when the villagers were asked

to recommend some possible effective measures against elephant depredation, the majority of

them suggested electric fencing (48%) along the park boundary, followed by concrete wall

(25%), Next to it, the majority of the respondents recommend regular patrolling (15%) by the

forest department officials along the park boundary areas and special joint patrolling with

JFMC during peak raiding period. A minor portion of the villagers also suggest simply drive

away (8%) and lighting the reserve boundary during night hours (7%) along with the other

recommendations.

Use of Elephant deterrent alternative cash crop as Bio-fence.

It is advisable to change the traditional cropping pattern by introducing some elephant

repellent alternative cash crops like lemon and chili. These were introduced in the fringe



villages of Manas national Park on an experimental basis[4]. In the study area it is seen that

Tea cultivation along the boundaries of the reserve forest also act as barrier to the crop land.

Therefore it is advisable to shift to tea cultivation as an alternative to paddy cultivation. This

alternative cropping pattern is expected to compensate the annual crop loss, and at the same

time due to their deterrent effects also thought to act as a “Bio-fence” to check the elephant

depredation/movement into the villages.

V. Conclusion: The fate of the Asian Elephant is dwindling day by day. To ensure the future of this

giant, it is important to clearly understand the ecological processes that drive HEC, along side

the attitude, expectation and tolerance level of the local people living near by. As a long term

measure, restoration of already degraded habitats is of utmost necessity. Protection and proper

management planning should be immediately made to foster natural regeneration of forest.

Communities living within or near forest can be an essential component of forest conservation,

by actively engaging with forest management activities and defending their territories against

poachers and loggers. Involvement of the local community in minimizing elephant depredation

and managing the critical issues of HEC could be strong initiative in the fringe areas.

Improving the livelihood security, introduction of alternative living options and improved

agricultural practices will reduce the pressure for annual land expansion too, which should in

turn reduce the need for forest clearance. Eco-development initiatives need to be encouraged in

the fringe villages, along with a series of conservation education and awareness programmes.

The alternative elephant deterrent cash crop concept could be a promising move towards

minimizing the conflict. However it may take a couple of years as such activity is new for the

villagers. The enquiry processes that involve more than one government department and the

compensation process should be prompt for loss of life and property. This will help to get back

the lost faith of the local community to the forest department.

References :

[1] Sukumar .R. :Ecology of the Asian Elephant in Southern India. II. Feeding Habits and

Crop Raiding Patterns. Journal of Tropical Ecology, Vol. 6, No. 1 (Feb., 1990), pp. 33-

53

[2] Choudhury, A.U. (1991). Status of wild elephants in Cachar and N.C.Hills, Assam - a

preliminary investigation. J.Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 88(2): 215-221.

[3] Choudhury, A. (1999). Status and conservation of the Asian elephant Elephas maximus

in north-eastern India. Mammal Review 29(3): 141-173.



[4] Menon, V., Tiwari, S.K., Easa, P.S. and Sukumar, R. (2013) Elephant corridors of India

: An analysis. In : Right of Passage: Elephant Corridors of India. Menon, V., Tiwari,

S.K., Easa, P.S. and Sukumar, R. (eds). Pp 258-65.

[5] Talukdar, B. and Barman, R. (2003). Man - Elephant Conflict in Assam, India: Is There

a Solution? Gajah 22: 50-56

[6] Marak, T. T. C. (2012). Status, distribution and conservation of the Asian elephant

(Elephas maximus) in Meghalaya. Indian Forester 128(2): 155-160

[7] Choudhury, A.U. (1992). Trunk routes. WWF- Quarterly 3(1): 14.

[8] Gurung, S. and Lahiri Choudhury, D.K. (2000). Project Elephant-human conflict in Asia

state report on Meghalaya, India. Part-I. Asian Elephant Research and Conservation

Centre

[9] Gurung, S. and Lahiri Choudhury, D.K. (2001). Project: Elephant-human conflict in

Asia state report on Meghalaya, India,. Community development-block reports. Part-II.

Asian Elephant Research and Conservation Centre

[10] Williams, A. C. and Johnsingh, A. J. T. (2006). Threatened elephant corridors in Garo

Hills, north-east India. Gajah 16 : 61-68.

A Comprehensive Study of Human-Elephant Conflict in the ... · investigated to get a broader...

Documents

Transcript of A Comprehensive Study of Human-Elephant Conflict in the ... · investigated to get a broader...