Northeast Desk, 26th August: The Wildlife Institute of India (WII) has been commissioned to formulate a strategic plan to manage the escalating human-elephant conflicts (HEC) in Nagaland’s Wokha and Mokokchung districts. This effort is part of the Forest and Biodiversity Management in the Himalaya-Nagaland Project (FBMP), supported by KfW.
On August 24, WII scientists, led by Dr. Anukul Nath, Project Investigator and Wildlife Conservation Specialist, held an initial planning session in Kohima. The meeting was chaired by Supongnukshi (IFS), Chief Conservator of Forests and Project Director of FBMP, and included participation from officials of the Forest Department’s Wildlife Wing, Wokha and Mokokchung Forest Divisions, as well as experts from the Project Management Consultant and Project Management Unit.
Following the planning session, the WII team established a base camp in Wokha on August 25. Their immediate focus is to conduct a comprehensive assessment of elephant distribution, population structure, and demographics in the area. The overarching goal of the project is to bolster the capacity of Forest Department personnel and local communities, ultimately leading to the development of a tailored Human-Elephant Conflict Management Plan for the Wokha and Mokokchung districts.
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