Awareness drive launched to tackle man-elephant conflict

THE growing human-elephant conflict in which three persons were killed in Hindol range of Dhenkanal forest division has prompted state government to launch a special community awareness drive to bring behavioural change of villagers in the region, grappling with over 200 elephants.

- SUDARSAN MAHARANA/BK ROUT @Bhubaneswar/Dhenkanal

PCCF wildlife Prem Kumar Jha said the DFO and frontline staff have been asked to intensify sensitisation and information, education, and communication (IEC) programmes on the field and make people aware about the do's and don'ts when elephants stray close to the human settlements in the region.

"Since people often move out early in the morning, the frontline staff will carry out the special drive to guide them about their responsibilities to avoid conflict with wildlife. This will be taken up in a sustained manner to bring behavioural change, a crucial step to bring down conflict in the sensitive region," Jha said.

Sources said around 400 elephants currently inhabit the Dhenkanal region, with nearly 200 in Hindol range alone, the highest concentration in any forest range across the state.