Guwahati, 31st July: Tragic incidents involving wild elephants have claimed two lives in Assam recently, highlighting the growing human-wildlife conflict in the region.
In the first incident, a mahout named Kumar from Darrang district was trampled to death by a wild elephant named Vikram at Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary. Vikram, one of eleven elephants rescued from flood-affected areas and housed at Mayong Pahar, became agitated and attacked Kumar while he was tending to the animal. Forest officials have recovered Kumar’s body and sent it for a post-mortem examination.
The previous night, Kamal Kalita, a 45-year-old laborer, was killed by a wild elephant at Deepor Beel on the outskirts of Guwahati. The fatal encounter occurred in the Miki Para area, where Kalita was attacked and trampled by the elephant. His body was found at the scene by local authorities.
These incidents underscore the ongoing challenges in managing human-elephant interactions, particularly in regions prone to flooding and habitat encroachment.