Deomali, Tirap District, Arunachal Pradesh – In a proactive step to reduce escalating human-elephant conflict, the Deomali Forest Division organized a community-level interactive meeting involving local villagers, gaon buras (village headmen), farmers, and frontline forest staff. The session focused on practical solutions, early warning systems, and long-term coexistence strategies in one of the most affected pockets of eastern Arunachal Pradesh.
The meeting comes amid a noticeable spike in crop-raiding incidents and occasional property damage caused by elephant herds moving through human settlements, particularly during the winter months when natural forage becomes scarce.
Key Highlights from the Interactive Session
The forest department presented data showing the pattern of elephant movement in the Deomali subdivision over the past two years. Villagers shared ground-level experiences, including peak raiding seasons, frequently used elephant corridors, and the most affected agricultural fields.
Major points discussed and agreed upon:
- Strengthening early warning mechanisms Installation of additional SMS/mobile-based alert groups, solar-powered sirens at vulnerable entry points, and night patrolling teams comprising local youth and forest watchers.
- Crop protection measures Promotion of low-cost elephant-proof trenches, chilli smoke ropes, bee-hive fences (already successful in parts of Assam), and solar fencing in high-priority locations.
- Compensation & quick response system Streamlining the process for filing crop damage claims and ensuring faster disbursal of ex-gratia relief as per state government norms.
- Community-led monitoring Formation of village-level “Elephant Response Teams” (ERTs) trained in basic hazing techniques and first-response protocols.
- Habitat improvement outside villages Proposal to create artificial water sources and fodder plots in nearby reserved forest areas to reduce elephants’ dependency on agricultural fields.
Voices from the Ground
Gaon buras and farmers appreciated the forest department’s willingness to listen rather than dictate solutions. Many stressed that “elephants are not enemies—they are part of our forest and our tradition,” but repeated losses were pushing families toward economic distress.
Forest Range Officer Deomali acknowledged the community’s cooperation and assured that all feasible short-term measures would be implemented within the current financial year, while long-term habitat and corridor restoration proposals would be sent to higher authorities.
Broader Context in Arunachal Pradesh
Human-elephant conflict has emerged as one of the most pressing conservation challenges in Arunachal Pradesh, particularly in the districts of Tirap, Changlang, Lower Dibang Valley, East Siang, and parts of Papum Pare and Lower Subansiri. The state is home to a significant population of Asian elephants, and increasing fragmentation of forest habitats due to linear infrastructure, shifting cultivation, and expanding settlements has intensified interface zones.
Meetings like the one held in Deomali reflect the forest department’s shift toward participatory, community-driven conflict mitigation—a model that has shown promising results in select pockets of Assam and Odisha.
The Deomali division has committed to follow-up field visits and quarterly review meetings to monitor progress and make course corrections as needed.
Relevant Tags
Human-Elephant Conflict Arunachal, Deomali Forest Division, Tirap District Elephants, Community Participation Conflict Mitigation, Elephant Early Warning System, Arunachal Conservation Meeting, Crop Raiding Northeast, Bee-Hive Fence Arunachal, Elephant Corridors Tirap, Forest Department Outreach
Hashtags
#HumanElephantConflict #ArunachalPradesh #DeomaliForest #TirapDistrict #ElephantConservation #CommunityResponse #NortheastWildlife #ConflictMitigation #ArunachalElephants #Coexistence
