Elephants Wreck Homes in Nagaon, Spotlighting Human-Wildlife Conflict

Assam’s Nagaon district is witnessing escalating human-wildlife conflicts, exemplified by a recent incident in Halowagaon where two wild elephants caused severe damage by destroying a man’s house, leaving his family homeless. The elephants had been wandering the area earlier and returned at night, damaging bamboo walls and scattering belongings. Neighbors recalled initially mistaking the noise for thunder. Such incidents are increasingly common in Nagaon, where elephants frequently enter villages and farmland in search of food, particularly during harvest seasons and floods.

Nagaon district is rich in biodiversity, housing important wildlife habitats like Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary, the Laokhowa–Burachapori ecosystem, and parts of Kaziranga National Park. It also contains approximately 379 wetlands and marshlands that support a variety of bird and aquatic species, though these habitats bring wildlife closer to human settlements, escalating the chances of encounters.

While elephants are the primary cause of conflict, other animals contribute as well. Leopards attack livestock, wild boars damage crops, rhinos from Kaziranga venture into villages, and tigers and gaur traverse agricultural lands. Such interactions often lead to casualties on both sides, with human injuries and deaths as well as loss of wildlife.

Between 2000 and 2023, Assam reported over 1,468 human deaths and approximately 1,209 elephant deaths linked to human-elephant conflicts. Fatalities in Nagaon fluctuate annually, with compensation data revealing multiple human injuries, deaths, and frequent elephant fatalities due to electrocution, poisoning, and road accidents.

Several factors exacerbate the conflict. Illegal settlements, agricultural expansion, and sand mining along riverbanks have shrunk elephant corridors and degraded grasslands. Large tracts of forest have been converted into farmland, forcing elephants to traverse villages during their seasonal migration. Additionally, riverbank erosion has pushed elephant herds closer to populated areas. Shrinking forest cover, fragmented grasslands, and the cultivation of crops such as paddy and maize — which attract elephants during lean seasons — further fuel the problem. Seasonal floods in Kaziranga and Laokhowa drive wildlife into adjacent human habitations.

In response, the Assam Forest Department and district administration have implemented several measures. These include rapid response teams, solar-powered fencing, night patrols, and early warning systems in conflict hotspots. Compensation schemes for human and animal casualties and property damage are also in place. There are ongoing discussions about habitat restoration and enhanced protection of elephant corridors.

However, challenges persist. Compensation payments often face delays, fencing remains inadequate, and stronger community-based deterrent mechanisms are needed. Forest and riverbank encroachment continues unabated, undermining conservation efforts.

Experts caution that without urgent and sustained intervention, the situation in Nagaon may worsen, leading to more losses of both human and wildlife lives. A senior forest official emphasized the importance of protecting elephant corridors, restoring forest food sources, and preventing human settlements from encroaching on critical wildlife habitats.

For the residents of Halowagaon, the recent destruction of a home by elephants is a stark reminder of the growing tension between humans and wildlife in Nagaon. Both communities face shared challenges, underscoring the urgent need for balanced solutions that protect livelihoods and biodiversity alike.