Assam forms 14 ‘Gosh Mitro’ teams to tackle human-elephant conflict along India-Bhutan border

The Assam government has formed 14 ‘Gosh Mitro’ teams comprising local youths to help tackle rising incidents of human-elephant conflict in the India-Bhutan border areas of Tamulpur and Baksa districts.

Assam Forest Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah visited the border areas of Tamulpur district and held a meeting with officials of the district administration, police and forest department to review the situation and discuss measures to minimise human-elephant conflict in the region.

Speaking to the media after the meeting, Baruah said the 14 teams had been constituted to monitor elephant movements and keep a close watch on vulnerable areas. Forest department officials will provide assistance to the teams to strengthen monitoring efforts and help prevent encounters between elephants and local residents.

The minister also announced a plantation initiative across approximately 50 bighas of land to develop food sources for wild elephants. The initiative will be undertaken by the Eco Task Force (ETF), which has two companies operating in Assam.

The measures are aimed at reducing human-elephant conflict and improving the safety of communities living along the India-Bhutan border, where encounters between humans and wild elephants have emerged as a growing concern.