GUWAHATI: In a move to address the persistent challenge of human-elephant conflict (HEC) in Assam’s Charaguwa Grant, a group of 61 community members received specialised training on the installation, monitoring, and maintenance of seasonal solar-powered fences.
The initiative, undertaken by premier biodiversity conservation organisation Aaranyak and the British Asian Trust with support from Darwin Initiative (UK Aid), aims to empower the community to coexist with wild elephants and safeguard their crops and homes.
Charaguwa Grant, situated in Sivasagar, Assam, has been grappling with human-elephant conflict, posing a threat to the primarily agrarian community’s livelihoods.
The seasonal solar-powered fence has emerged as an efficient mitigation tool in protecting crops, lives, and homesteads in areas prone to human-elephant conflict.
The comprehensive training programme, a blend of theory and hands-on sessions, covered the installation, maintenance, and monitoring of non-lethal solar-powered fences.
Participants gained insights into the types of materials and skills required for the exercise, with a live demonstration of solar fence installation.
Conducted by Aaranyak’s Anjan Baruah, the training received assistance from Dibakar Nayak and Rupam Gayari.
Belinda Stewart-Cox, Auro Shashwat from the British Asian Trust, and Aaranyak’s senior scientist Dr Bibhuti Prasad Lahkar, senior conservation biologist Dr Alolika Sinha, and team members, including Zakir Islam Bora, were present during the training.
Expressing the importance of the initiative, Dr Lahkar said, “The training equips these communities with the tools and knowledge to coexist harmoniously with elephants, ensuring the safety of lives and livelihoods.”
Aaranyak and the British Asian Trust, with support from Darwin Initiative, are actively engaged in eastern Assam districts and West Garo hill district of neighbouring Meghalaya.
Their efforts are focused on promoting human-elephant coexistence by educating communities, enhancing livelihoods, and implementing protective measures such as seasonal solar-powered fences to safeguard subsistence livelihoods.
