3-day workshop on man-animal conflict

TURA,FEB 23: A three-day workshop on ‘Garo Hills Elephant Reserve Action Plan’ was inaugurated today at SMELC, Dakopgre, Tura where TTC Marak, Member Academic Council, Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun and retired Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF) graced the occasion as the chief guest.

The workshop was organised by the Department of Forest and Environment, Government of Meghalaya.

Expressing concern about the increasing man animal conflict in the regionMarak stressed on the need to sensitize the stakeholders for regulating and minimizing the use of forest land for human habitation and agricultural production especially in areas considered as elephant corridor zones.

Un-regulated human habitation and expanding agriculture and plantation crops in forest area thereby disturbing the ecology of the region are few reasons of this man animal conflict, he added.

Recalling past experiences he said that sightings of elephants was a daily affair and the Garo tribes have due respect for the elephant for they call them ‘Dalgipa’ meaning Huge in English but there has been reports of increasing man animal conflict in the region and hence the need to sensitize the people for their conservation.

Further, Marak urged the stakeholders to cooperate and preserve the beautiful landscape and environment of the area thereby paving way to create conducive atmosphere for the preservation of the elephants in Garo hills region.

In his speech, South West Garo Hills deputy commissioner Ram Singh stated that 124 cases of man animal conflict have been recorded in South West Garo hills, district alone in the year 2015. In view of this, he urged the concerned department for sensitizing the general public about the issues and problems of this man animal conflict which would help them to create peaceful and favorable atmosphere for coexistence.

During the technical session, wildlife experts and scientists of international repute are presenting their views and observations and thereby design a concrete action plan to save the elephants during this three-day workshop.

Officials and staff of the department, Nokmas of different villages, representatives of various biodiversity management committees of Garo hills were amongst others present in this workshop.-From Our Correspondent