Wild tuskers damage house in Tripura’s Khowai district, none injured

“The elephants came at 9:30 pm and damaged our house. Forest officials came later. This is the third time that our house has been damaged. We were not given any sort of help from the government. Local public representatives came, took details, and left. Where will we now go with our children?” she said.

On Friday morning, residents of the Krishnapur Assembly constituency in Khowai district had blocked the Assam-Agartala National Highway demanding protection from the attacks of wild elephants. They lifted the blockade after the forest minister assured them about shifting the wild tuskers to a separate location.

According to a report from the state forest department, Tripura had 102 elephants, including 42 wild elephants and 60 under captivity, even a few years ago. A new elephant survey was undertaken in March 2020 but the report could not be finalised since lockdown was imposed soon after.

As part of setting up a natural defence mechanism for villagers, the state government had started a beekeeping project in agricultural farms for jumbos avoid stingy insects.

The government has also undertaken initiatives like setting up bamboo and banana plantations, and watering holes, among others, inside forests to prevent elephants from straying into villages in search of food.