GUWAHATI: In recent months, Guwahati has witnessed a surge in unexpected wildlife appearances, with incidents ranging from deer wandering urban neighbourhoods to leopards attacking residents and elephants navigating flood-stricken areas.
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From the streets of Noonmati to the flood-hit zones of Chandrapur, the incidents have sparked debates on the causes of these intrusions and the measures needed to address them.
On December 4, a deer was seen navigating the streets of Guwahati’s Noonmati area. The animal was spotted near residential areas and even close to a school, before eventually disappearing into nearby greenery. Forest officials cited habitat disruption as the likely cause of the incident.
Earlier, on June 27, another deer was found trapped in a drain in New Guwahati. Passersby alerted authorities, prompting a rescue operation that lasted over two hours. The animal was eventually handed over to the Assam State Zoo for care and observation. Speaking to GPlus, a forest official explained that human activity such as earth cutting and encroachment into forest areas compels wildlife to venture into urban spaces.
In July, a wild elephant (locally known as a Makhna) appeared in the Chandrapur area near Bhagabati Hills during severe floods. Forest and disaster management teams monitored the animal around the clock but were unable to conduct a rescue due to the inundation. Officials used public announcements to warn nearby residents of potential conflict and advised evacuation from the affected zones.
"The elephant is likely displaced due to flooding and shrinking forest cover," said a forest official. The incident highlights how natural disasters and habitat destruction force animals to move into human settlements, often in search of food and safer ground.
On July 20, a leopard attacked a 45-year-old woman, Dipali Das, in the Kalapahar area during the early hours. Das sustained serious injuries and was hospitalized at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital. The leopard was captured later that day.
However, talking to GPlus, a senior official from the Assam Forest Department pointed to human encroachment as the root cause. "People build homes in areas that were traditionally wildlife habitats. The animals simply follow their age-old routes, which are now blocked by human settlements," the official told GPlus.