Itanagar, Feb 2: Amid growing concern over persistent human–elephant conflict in Arunachal Pradesh’s Deomali sub-division, the Deomali Forest Department organised an interactive meeting on February 1 to explore long-term solutions to the decades-old issue. Elephant movement in the region has continued to pose serious challenges, affecting livelihoods, property and human safety.
The meeting was chaired by the Regional Action Plan Committee for Mitigating Human–Elephant Conflict in the North East Region, led by its chairman B. S. Bonal, retired Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of Forest Force, Assam. A number of senior forest officials, wildlife experts and public representatives took part in the discussion, including P. R. Marak, retired Chief Conservator of Forests, Meghalaya; Dr. Tajum Yumcha, Research Officer with the PCCF (Wildlife and Biodiversity), Arunachal Pradesh; A. K. Deka, Chief Conservator of Forests, Deomali; and former Deomali ZPM Wangphoon Lowang.
During the interaction, farmers and local residents shared first-hand accounts of frequent elephant incursions into villages and farmlands. They spoke about repeated crop losses, damage to homes and the constant threat to human lives, stressing that the situation has become increasingly difficult to manage without effective preventive mechanisms.
Several demands emerged from the discussion, including the installation of solar fencing around agricultural areas and known elephant corridors, the provision of solar street lights in vulnerable villages, and the formation of a dedicated Elephant Protection Force to ensure rapid response during emergencies. Participants emphasised that a combination of infrastructure support and quick-action teams was essential to reduce conflict and prevent fatalities.
Village chiefs, Gaon Burahs, PRI members, local leaders and residents from across the Deomali area attended the meeting, reflecting widespread community concern. Representatives of the NGO Hinthong Foundation, led by Chajo Lowang and her team, also contributed to the dialogue, highlighting the importance of community-based mitigation strategies.
The issue has gained renewed urgency following a series of fatal incidents in recent years. Several people have reportedly lost their lives to elephant attacks in the Deomali region, including former MLA Kapchen Rajkumar, who was killed last year while on a morning walk from Deomali to Namsang village in Tirap district. He had represented the Khonsa North Assembly Constituency from 1975 to 1990. The meeting concluded with a shared understanding that sustained coordination between authorities and local communities is crucial to addressing the escalating human–elephant conflict.
