Guwahati: To compensate for the losses incurred due to burgeoning human-elephant conflict, Aaranyak has provided 55 bee boxes in Assam’s Udalguri and Baksa districts as livelihood support to some affected families.
The human-elephant conflict has affected lives of communities in parts of Udalguri and Baksa in Assam.
“Of the total 55 boxes, 25 contained active bee colonies which were provided to the Manas Sousi Khonkhor Ecotourism Society in Baksa, and two other families in Udalguri,” Bibhuti Prasad Lahkar, a senior conservation scientist in Aaranyak and head of its Elephant Research and Conservation Division, said.
Lahkar said 30 more bee boxes were distributed without active colonies to five families in Baksa and Udalguri districts.
Aaranyak official Didom Daimari provided practical demonstrations on capturing queen bees and maintaining bee colonies, ensuring the communities have the knowledge required to manage it effectively.
This initiative is supported by SBI Foundation to reduce human-elephant conflict in some of the areas of Baksa, Tamulpur and Udalguri districts.
Providing bee boxes as a livelihood support empowered communities with income generated from honey production.
The bee boxes will reduce their dependence on crops that attract wild elephants, minimising the conflict while facilitating economic benefits and coexistence.
The Aaranyak team, comprising Rabiya Daimari, Abhijit Saikia, Mondeep Basumatari, Jaugashar Basumatary, Bikash Tossa, Pradip Barman and intern Abhilasha Boruah actively engaged with local communities for this initiative.
