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Wild elephants threaten paddy harvests in Assam
Wild elephant incursions are causing significant agricultural damage and safety concerns across parts of Assam, specifically in the Kamrup and Nalbari districts. In the Nalapara area of the Rani forest range, farmers report that herds of approximately 40 to 50 elephants are raiding paddy fields almost daily as the Sali crop nears maturity.
Residents in East Nalbari, including villages such as Balakuchi and Gobindapur, have reported persistent elephant activity for the past three to five years. In these areas, herds of 10 to 15 elephants have been observed destroying crops and damaging houses. Villagers have expressed fear for their lives, noting that previous attacks have resulted in fatalities.
Local communities have criticized the Forest Department for inadequate intervention and ineffective long-term solutions. In the Rani forest range, concerns have been raised regarding the slow progress of a 17 km solar fencing project intended to separate elephants from agricultural land along the Assam-Meghalaya border.
Entities
Assam Forest Department · Jayanta Mallabaruah · Kamrup · Nalbari · Rani forest range
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Approximately 40 to 50 wild elephants are present in the Nalapara area of the Rani forest range. assamtribune.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Wild elephant incursions have been a persistent issue in East Nalbari for three to five years.
- [● 2 SOURCES] A 17 km solar fencing project along the Assam-Meghalaya border is incomplete. assamtribune.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Wild elephants are raiding paddy fields in the Rani forest range almost daily. assamtribune.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The Forest Department has attempted to drive elephants away over the last five years in Nalbari.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Elephant herds are destroying standing paddy crops in the greater Nalbari area.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Herds of 14 to 15 elephants have been reported in the Nalbari region.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Wild elephant attacks have caused fatalities in the affected Nalbari areas.