Shillong: Wild elephants roam freely across the Assam-Meghalaya border. They ignore state lines. Conservationists and officials met August 1 at Naguapara Upper Primary School to fix this. They want better coordination to manage human-elephant conflict in the West Garo Hills and Goalpara regions.
Aaranyak organized the session alongside the Lakhipur Forest Range of Assam and the Wildlife Protection Range of Meghalaya. About 50 people attended, including farmers, teachers, and Nokmas. They came from Khasiapara, Ganarugre, Kalapara, Mauriapara, Besorkona, Joyramkuchi, Medhipara Part-II, and Kasubari.
Residents from Rabha and Garo tribes shared their struggles with the animals. They need faster help during patrols. Meghalaya villagers specifically requested support from the Assam Forest Department. Anjan Baruah of Aaranyak presented practical ways to live alongside the herds. He highlighted specific safety measures, while Lakhipur Range Officer Moupran Gayan detailed the current elephant movement patterns.
Forester Dhan Chandra Doloi provided survival tips. Oshim Sangma from the Meghalaya Forest Department outlined official mitigation work. Local leaders, including Nokma Nalemson Sangma and Prafulla Rabha, voiced their frustrations. The participants agreed that better communication is vital for safety. As one attendee noted, the goal is "a deeper understanding of conservation and human elephant coexistence."
The event concluded with a clear consensus. Border communities must work together. The teams from Aaranyak and the forest departments will use these insights to refine their response plans.
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