Human-elephant conflict results in death tolls on both sides

Kathmandu: Jhapa and Morang have witnessed increasing conflict between humans and elephants, which has resulted in a death toll on both sides. In the last two years, 12 people were killed while 13 were injured in elephant attacks and Six were also killed during the same period.

According to the Division Forest Office, Jhapa, a herd of elephants stalks settlements near the forest for food, and when people chase away the pachyderm it turns into an ugly situation- losing lives in an elephant attack. The people are victimized even during morning walks, and in grass and fodder collection in the forest. Researchers on elephants argue that expanding human settlements is gradually encroaching upon forests, thereby infuriating elephants. In the last six decades, the forests have receded much.

Similarly, Shankar Luitel viewed that an elephant has a sharp memory and wants to stroll freely but finds difficulties in receding habitats which angers him resulting in damage to human settlements.  Ward chair of Mechinagar-4, Arjun Karki said that they had adopted a policy of human-elephant coexistence to minimize elephant menace.

He even viewed that an elephant is not an aggressive animal, but when it feels threatened by its habitat and food it certainly retaliates.  And said that a policy of human-wildlife coexistence was put in place at Bahundangi which has recorded many cases of human-elephant conflict.

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