Human–elephant conflict escalates in Assam's Kaliabor, wild jumbo wreaks havoc

The recurring menace of human–elephant conflict continues to haunt Kaliabor, as a massive wild elephant has been wreaking havoc in residential areas during nightly forays in search of food, exposing serious gaps in wildlife management and compensation mechanisms.

 

In the latest incident, a wild elephant stormed into the residence of Mineswar Barua at Barua Chuk late at night, causing extensive damage to the house and household property. The intrusion occurred while the family was fast asleep, heightening fears over safety as the animal forcefully entered the dwelling and consumed stored paddy before retreating.

 

Residents said the elephant has been regularly venturing into human settlements after nightfall, triggering panic and sleepless nights among villagers. The repeated incursions underscore the growing intensity of man–animal conflict in the region, where shrinking forest cover and food scarcity are forcing wildlife closer to human habitation.

 

Notably, this is not the first time Mineswar Barua’s family has suffered such devastation. In 2023, a wild elephant had similarly damaged the same house, leaving the family grappling with losses for the second time in two years.

 

Expressing deep resentment, the affected family alleged that despite repeated appeals, no compensation has been provided by the Forest Department for the earlier damage. The lack of relief, they said, has compounded their distress and raised serious questions about the effectiveness of existing compensation and mitigation measures.

 

The incident has renewed demands from local residents for urgent intervention, including timely compensation, improved elephant movement monitoring, and stronger preventive steps to prevent further escalation of human–elephant conflict in Kaliabor and adjoining areas.