Itanagar: In a somber turn of events, the quiet village of Thalot in Arunachal Pradesh’s Tirap district was plunged into mourning following a fatal elephant attack late on the night of July 31. The victim, Jatphok Sawin, lost his life between 9 and 10 pm in what has now become the third such incident in the state within a month, casting a long shadow over the growing human-elephant conflict.
The tragedy in Thalot is a grim reminder of the escalating tensions between humans and wildlife in the region. Just weeks earlier, the state had been rocked by the death of former Khonsa North MLA Kapchen Rajkumar, who was trampled by an elephant on July 9 while on a morning walk. A few days before the latest incident, on July 28, a tea garden labourer, Dhiren Tati, was also killed by a wild elephant at his home in Aghuripather, underscoring the relentless danger posed by these majestic, yet often unpredictable, creatures.
Following the devastating news, Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF) Deomali, Chimoy Simai, promptly visited Thalot village on Friday to take stock of the situation. He candidly acknowledged the monumental challenges confronting the forest department, citing a severe shortage of staff and the near-impossibility of tracking wild elephants in the dense forest cover, especially under the cloak of darkness when the animals are most active.
In response to the mounting crisis, Simai detailed the department’s heightened efforts to address the issue. These measures include round-the-clock patrolling, a push to fill manpower gaps, and the distribution of firecrackers to villagers as a deterrent. He also confirmed that a system of compensation and ex gratia payments is in place for those who suffer loss of life or property. Furthermore, he revealed that proposals are being drawn up for the installation of surveillance towers and the construction of elephant trenches with barbed wire fencing at critical locations to help manage the movement of the animals.
Simai also issued a set of practical advisories to the local community, urging them to remain vigilant and avoid leaving food waste near their homes, which can act as a powerful attractant for elephants. He also put forward the idea of planting king chilli plants, suggesting they could serve as an effective natural deterrent. Looking ahead, Simai announced that an emergency meeting will be convened shortly to devise a comprehensive, multi-pronged strategy aimed at mitigating human-wildlife conflict and ensuring the long-term safety of communities residing in and around forested areas.
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