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Village Feeds Elephants, Saves Crops Peacefully
17 Aug
Summary
- Villagers grow food for elephants to prevent crop raids.
- An initiative called 'Hati Bondhu' promotes coexistence.
- Over 266 acres converted into elephant feeding grounds.
In a remarkable shift from conflict to coexistence, the village of Hatikhuli-Ronghang along the Nagaon-Karbi Anglong border has pioneered a unique approach to managing human-elephant interactions. Villagers, once living in fear of crop destruction by migrating elephant herds, have actively created elephant feeding grounds. This initiative, closely linked to the 'Hati Bondhu' (Friends of Elephants) movement, focuses on understanding elephant needs and providing alternative food sources.
The strategy involves cultivating specific crops like Napier grass, paddy, jackfruit, and elephant apple on designated lands. This proactive measure aims to divert elephants from agricultural fields, allowing farmers to safely cultivate and harvest their crops. As of the reporting period, this community-led conservation experiment has converted approximately 266 acres into dedicated elephant feeding areas, leading to a notable decrease in human-elephant conflict incidents.
Hatikhuli now offers a unique travel experience, allowing visitors to witness conservation efforts firsthand and understand the community's changed relationship with wildlife. The best time to observe elephant activity is between August and December, when food availability influences herd movements. Travelers can reach Hatikhuli via air through Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport or by train to Guwahati, followed by a road journey.
