GUWAHATI: In a concerted effort to address the escalating human-elephant conflict (HEC) in eastern Assam, 117 members of Rapid Response Units (RRU) recently underwent intensive training sessions across various districts of the state.
Organised by biodiversity conservation organisation Aaranyak, in collaboration with the British Asian Trust, the training programmes were conducted in Tinsukia, Sibsagar, and Jorhat districts.
Held at strategic locations including Basa Gaon in Sadiya, Charaguwa High School near Panidihing Bird Sanctuary, and Hatisal Chapori village in Jhanjimukh, the sessions aimed to equip RRU members with essential skills to mitigate human-elephant conflicts.
Attended by members of anti-depredation squads (ADS) from the Assam Forest Department and other forest staff, the training sessions featured theoretical presentations by conservation experts.
Led by Dr Bibhuti Prasad Lahkar and Aaranyak official Anjan Baruah, the training covered crucial topics such as elephant identification, distribution, and the underlying causes of conflicts prevalent in Northeast.
The RRU members were briefed on their roles and responsibilities, highlighting the importance of promoting coexistence between elephants and local communities.
The training also focused on leveraging communication platforms such as WhatsApp groups for efficient information dissemination, enabling early warnings about the presence of wild elephants near human habitats.
Pre and post-evaluation exercises were also conducted to assess the efficacy of the training programmes, ensuring that RRU members are well-prepared to tackle challenges associated with human-elephant conflicts in their respective villages.
Operational in various HEC-affected areas, RRUs play a crucial role in alerting communities about the proximity of wild elephants, thereby facilitating proactive measures to minimise potential conflicts.
Initiated with support from the Darwin Initiatives, RRUs have been established in specific districts including Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Majuli, Sibsagar, and Jorhat, signalling a concerted effort to address the pressing issue of human-elephant conflict in Assam’s eastern regions.
