Deforestation in Assam leading to man-elephant conflict in Bhutan

GUWAHATI, Nov 20 - Notwithstanding its remarkable conservation saga, Bhutan continues to grapple with a serious man-elephant conflict. Ironically, the cause of the conflict has nothing to do with any lapse on Bhutan’s part; rather, it is the rampant deforestation in the Assam side along the Indo-Bhutan border that has triggered the conflict.

“It’s true that Bhutan is witnessing a man-elephant conflict in some of its border areas with Assam. This may not yet be as intense as it is in Assam but it is a definite cause of worry,” Sonam Wangdi, a representative from the Department of Forest and Park Services, Bhutan, told The Assam Tribune.

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Chasing away wild elephants near Indo-Bhutan border

A massive operation to chase away wild elephants from villages of Udalguri district was launched from Paneri tea garden at 10.30 am on December 10. Dhansiri Forest Division organized the operation at the direction of Bonjar Daimari,Deputy Speaker,BTC,Santias Kunjur,EM,BTC and Rihon Daimari,MLA,Udalguri. Forest personals from Mazbat and Nonoi Range Offices,Bornadi Wildlife Sanctuary and Division head office headed by MP Sarma,ACF,Dhansiri Forest Division launched the operation in association with police and civil administration headed by DN Hazarika,Circle Officer,Harisinga Revenue Circle,Tangla. The massive operation was also supported by senior managers of Paneri and Bhutiachang tea gardens. More than five thousand villagers joined the operation to chase away 25 wild elephants to Bhutan hills unhurt. Dy Speaker,Bonjar Daimari personally supervised the operation with EM Santias Kunjur with the help of JCB and tractors. The breath taking operation was completed within four hours. Four domestic elephants namely- Moon,Joon, Rangilee and Rajdhan also took part in the operation.

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Bhutanese elephants develop 'new fondness' for oranges

Bhutanese elephants develop 'new fondness' for oranges

Elephants in Bhutan have begun eating oranges for what is believed to be the first time, officials have told the country's main English newspaper.

A report in the Kuensel newspaper says that elephants have developed a taste for mandarins in orchards in the south-east of the country.

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Elephants damage crops in Sipsu

Kuensel

25 May, 2008

Even as this article was being written late last evening, a group of six elephants entered a maize field in lower Hungay, Sipsu, as farmers helplessly watched from a safe distance. It was raining heavily.

This week alone, marauding elephants from across the border destroyed more than 17 acres of maize plants, a few acres of ginger in the villages of Hungay and Peljorling in Sipsu.

According to farmers of the two villages, such damage happens every year and, despite measures to scare the elephants like solar fencing producing electric current, stopping the 600-pound beasts was near impossible.

Last year, Samtse dzongkhag officials fenced a total length of about six kilometres, but farmers said that the solar fencings were stolen from time to time.

Pushalal Sharma, a farmer from Hungay, told Kuensel that the recent attack on the night of May 20 destroyed two acres of maize and ginger fields. “If elephants continue to come, next year we’ll not plant crops any more. Our hardship and efforts are going in vain”, he said.

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Elephants wreak havoc

Kuensel Online

11 December, 2007

A herd of 24 elephants, the biggest herd seen so far in Samtse, ravaged several acres of paddy, millet and potato fields in Chargarey on December 3.

The elephants also trampled on and destroyed several doma (betel nut) trees on their rampage.

Villagers told Kuensel that it took more than seven hours for about 150 people, including soldiers, 17 foresters and the villagers, to chase the elephants from the fields. Villagers suspect that the elephants entered Bhutan via Thaljora in India and moved up the banks of Gathia khola (river) during the night.

When the beasts returned in the morning, they stampeded through the paddy fields.

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Farmers suffer elephant forays

Kuensel

26 November, 2007

On the morning of November 20, some farmers of Jitey village under Samtse dzongkhag spotted a rhinoceros in the nearby jungle. It was a good sign.

According to the villagers, the presence of rhinos means the absence of elephants and no further devastation of their farmlands.

Sunakheth literally means “field of gold” and it would be so had it not been for a large herd of elephants that destroyed about three acres of paddy. L P Bhatarai from Jiteytar lost 75 percent of his harvest and now grazes his cattle in the ravaged fields.

The area, a little way up the Jitey khola (river), bears witness to the devastation by the uninvited guests and the suffering the people have endured. The pachyderms come at night and roam around until morning before returning to their habitat.

Ash Maya’s house stands amidst fallen doma and uprooted banana trees. The elephants had come right up to her home. Her family had remained inside the mud and bamboo house while the elephants destroyed their fields. “We lit a fire and stayed put. There’s nothing else we could do. Nothing can drive them away when they come,” said Ash, looking helpless.

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