Tragic Loss: Woman Trampled by Wild Elephant in Sonitpur Amidst Escalating Human-Elephant Conflict

A tragic incident unfolded in the Rangapara area of Sonitpur district’s Chariduar reserve forest, where a 35-year-old woman named Geeta Karmakar was trampled to death by a wild elephant. The incident occurred on Thursday night in an area outside the revenue village. Sonitpur west division’s Divisional Forest Officer, Nripendra Nath Kalita, highlighted the pervasive issue of human-elephant conflicts exacerbated by shrinking habitats. He emphasized that increasing encroachment into the reserve forest over the last two decades has led to such fatal encounters. Almost the entire area is currently encroached upon, prompting calls for urgent action to clear these lands and prevent further tragedies. Kalita mentioned the forest department’s ongoing efforts since 2021 to stop new encroachments and gradually clear existing ones. The incident underscores the critical need to address human-wildlife conflicts and protect wildlife habitats to ensure safety for both humans and animals.

Original Story https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/guwahati/woman-trampled-to-death-by-wild-elephant-in-sonitpur-human-elephant-conflict-escalates/articleshow/114602607.cms
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Publish Date: 2024-10-26 04:27:00