The human-elephant conflict in Baksa is steadily moving towards a point of no return with the government in a happy slumber
As the sun sets over Baksa, the villagers brace themselves for another sleepless night. Armed with whatever they can find, they prepare to guard their homes and crops, hoping the elephants won’t return.
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A 12-year-old girl stood trembling, her eyes filled with tears as she recounted a harrowing night. “We had to spend the night on the mathauri (levee) because we were too scared. We were inside our home when suddenly, elephants came and destroyed everything. They crushed our walls, and we had to run for our lives. Our house is gone,” she said, her voice quivering.
This is not just one incident. In Baksa, a district nestled near the Indo-Bhutan border, human-elephant conflict has escalated to startling levels, leaving villagers in a state of perpetual fear and despair. The situation has brought into sharp focus the failure to address the root causes of this conflict, affecting both humans and elephants alike.
An Unending Struggle for Safety
For the residents of Uttarkuchi, Jartaluk, and other nearby villages, nights are no longer a time of rest but of constant vigilance. Wild elephants, often in herds of up to 150, wander into human settlements, wreaking havoc. Residents spend their nights guarding their homes and crops, armed with torches, sticks, and loud crackers, hoping to drive the elephants away.
“Yesterday, from 11:30 PM to around 5 this morning, we were trying to chase away the elephants,” a resident of Uttarkuchi village told GPlus on Tuesday, November 20. “But they are still here, roaming near our homes. This is the third time they have come this week. We are living in constant fear.”
Debojit Ramchiary, another resident of Uttarkuchi talking to GPlus said, “People have been killed in these incidents. It’s high time the government sets up a forest camp here for our safety"
Fields Ravaged, Livelihoods Destroyed
The villagers, primarily dependent on agriculture, are struggling to cope with the dual threat of losing their crops and their lives. “For the past two years, elephants have been destroying everything we grow,” said Alaka, a shopkeeper in Jartaluk. “Now, they have started destroying our homes too. We are at a breaking point.”
He added, with visible frustration, “This is happening because humans have encroached on the elephants’ natural habitat. They are attacking us because they have nowhere else to go. But why has the government failed to act? We have been facing this for years.”
“There are about 100–150 elephants in this herd. They trample our crops and destroy our homes. Three houses were attacked last week, and two days ago, four more houses were damaged. We cannot sleep at night, fearing for our lives,” Alaka said.
Education in Crisis
The conflict is not just a matter of damaged property; it’s also disrupting daily life, especially for children.
Talking to GPlus, a school teacher from Jartaluk highlighted the toll it has taken on education. “For the past four years, elephants have been causing trouble, especially at night. But this year, they have started coming during the day as well,” he said.
The teacher continued, “This is particularly challenging during exam season. Students are scared and unable to concentrate on their studies. The constant presence of elephants in the area creates chaos in the classroom. Without a permanent solution, the future of our children is at stake.”
One woman, whose home was destroyed by the elephants, expressed her anguish. “The elephants came at midnight, destroyed our walls, and left. Then they returned at dawn and attacked again. How can I live here with my child in such fear?” she asked, her voice breaking.
Another villager added, “At midnight, a herd came and ate all the wheat from our farm. They also destroyed Kailash Das’s house. This is not just an incident; it is our reality now.”
The Elephants’ Perspective
While the villagers’ plight is heart-wrenching, the elephants are victims too. Deforestation and human encroachment have led to the loss of their natural habitat. Deprived of food and water, they are forced to enter human settlements in search of sustenance.
A local schoolteacher talking to GPlus said, “The forest areas around our village have been destroyed. The elephants come here because they have no other option. They are looking for food and water, and in the process, they destroy our homes and fields.”
Government Inaction and the Blame Game
The villagers’ frustration is compounded by the lack of timely intervention from the authorities. Forest department officials often arrive too late to mitigate the damage. Residents also complain about the absence of a permanent forest camp in the area.
Talking to GPlus, a senior forest official from Baksa said that the department has submitted a proposal to higher authorities to set up permanent forest camps in the affected areas. “The camps will be established only after the proposal is approved,” he said.
Wildlife activists also emphasise the importance of educating villagers about coexistence and equipping them with non-lethal tools to deter elephants.
A renowned animal activist in Assam seeking anonymity said, “The focus should be on creating a balance where both humans and elephants can coexist peacefully"
The situation in Baksa paints a different picture of the ongoing human-elephant conflict, where both lives and livelihoods hang precariously in the balance. The question remains: How long will the villagers have to endure sleepless nights, guarding their homes and fields from elephant invasions? Why has the government failed to act decisively, despite repeated pleas and countless incidents of destruction? With proposals for permanent forest camps still awaiting approval, one must ask—what is delaying the process?
Until these questions are answered, and effective measures are implemented, the conflict will only worsen. Villagers will continue to live in fear, elephants will remain displaced and stressed, and the delicate balance between humans and wildlife will be further disrupted. Will we wait for more destruction and loss of lives, or will action be taken before it’s too late?
