Itanagar, March 6: Wangki Lowang, Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, on March 6 stated that the growing number of human–wildlife conflicts in the state is largely linked to development pressures and the strain placed on natural habitats.
The minister made the remarks while responding to a private member’s resolution moved by Kumar Waii, a Congress MLA, during a discussion in the Assembly. He noted that Arunachal Pradesh is home to globally significant biodiversity while also supporting forest-dependent communities, a combination that frequently leads to encounters between humans and wildlife.
Lowang explained that development projects often disrupt traditional wildlife movement corridors, forcing animals to wander into nearby human settlements. He also pointed out that the customary practice of shifting cultivation among tribal communities can affect forest habitats and contribute to such conflicts. According to him, incidents tend to increase when ecosystems face stress or when the natural prey base for wild animals declines.
During the debate, Waii referred to several recent cases that resulted in fatalities and urged the government to take stronger measures to prevent such incidents. Among them was the death of Arunachal Pradesh Police head constable Chikseng Manpung, who was killed in a tiger attack near Mayudia along the Roing–Anini road in Lower Dibang Valley district on February 2 while returning from Anini on his motorcycle.
Another incident involved assistant sub-inspector Martin Lego of Sunpura Police Station, who died in a wild elephant attack near Patthar Ghat along the Lohit riverbank in Lohit district on February 21 while he was with two friends. The House was also reminded of the death of former MLA Kapchen Rajkumar, who represented the Khonsa North constituency between 1985 and 1990, after he was attacked by a wild elephant near Deomali in Tirap district during a morning walk last year.
The minister said addressing the problem requires long-term strategies such as community-based prevention systems, quicker response mechanisms, transparent compensation for victims and improved landscape-level planning to safeguard wildlife corridors while protecting local livelihoods.
He informed the Assembly that proposals have been sent to the Central government seeking support for installing solar electric fencing and digging trenches in areas prone to conflict, though no response has yet been received. Lowang also revealed that a proposal has been submitted to the state government recommending a complete ban on airguns and suggested the formation of an Assembly committee to study the matter and submit recommendations.
He further stated that reports on human fatalities caused by wildlife encounters have already been forwarded to the Centre and that the state is awaiting the release of ex-gratia funds for the families of the victims.
Taking part in the discussion, BJP MLAs Mahesh Chai, Honchun Ngandam and Wanglin Lowangdong called for stronger legislation to deal with the issue. Deputy Speaker Kardo Nyigyor, who was presiding over the House, assured members that a committee would be constituted to examine the matter and present its report to the government.
