Revolutionary Initiative: Radio Collaring Elephants to Drastically Reduce Devastating Human-Elephant Conflict
The forest department in Guwahati has initiated a radio-collaring project to track the movement of a large herd of 80 wild elephants across the districts of Tamulpur, Nalbari, and Baksa. This initiative is aimed at alerting villagers to the herd’s movements, following incidents where elephants have caused fatalities and destroyed crops, placing these areas as significant hotspots for human-elephant conflict.
Among two major herds, one with over 80 elephants and another with around 40, a radio collar has been fitted on a strong tusker from the larger herd. The department plans to collar a female elephant next, as females typically remain with the group. This radio collar, expected to function for up to three years, utilizes satellite technology to share real-time location details every hour, helping monitor elephant movement from Bhutan’s hills into Assam and back.
The collaring operation, performed by tranquilizing the targeted elephant, was completed with the cooperation of local NGOs, forest authorities, and district administrations. This technological intervention is seen as a strategic move to reduce human-elephant conflicts, providing early warnings to communities and safeguarding both human lives and agricultural areas.
The collar, costing around Rs 8 lakh per elephant and sourced from South Africa, resembles a belt around the elephant’s neck. It not only assists in preventing conflict but also aims to reduce the spread of misinformation about elephant movements. Wildlife experts highlight that historic elephant routes spanning 300 kilometers to North Bengal might be impacted by changing human settlement patterns, and radio-collaring will offer insights into these changes.
Overall, this new approach signals a proactive step in wildlife management, balancing elephant conservation with human safety and agricultural protection in Assam.
Original Story https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/guwahati/new-initiative-radio-collaring-elephants-to-reduce-human-elephant-conflict/articleshow/115430453.cms
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Publish Date: 2024-11-19 04:26:00
