A 45-year-old man, identified as Rajib Gogoi, was trampled to death by a wild elephant at Bojaloni under Margherita West Range forest office of Digboi Forest Division in upper Assam’s Tinsukia district on Sunday.
According to locals, Rajib Gogoi was waiting in his paddy field at Makumqilla road where a wild elephant attacked him and trampled him to death.
He died on the spot.
He was taken to the civil hospital but doctors declared him brought dead. His body was sent for post-mortem.
Margherita West Range Forest officials have given an amount of Rs 5,000 to the next of the kin for funeral of the deceased.
Man-animal conflict cases have been on the rise due to the shrinking of forest cover. The animals are entering human habitation in search of food as a result of which conflicts are rising.
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Digboi Forest Division, DFO TC Ranjit Ram said, “Most of the villages are adjacent to Dehing-Patkai National Park and the elephants frequently move to the village areas. As per government norms, compensation will be given to the deceased family.”
“Bogapani elephant corridor is one of the biggest elephant corridors in Asia but the elephant corridor has been encroached by humans and as a result, the elephants are facing trouble in passing through the corridor,” Ram said.
“It was blocked by human encroachment. Due to the blocking of the elephant corridor, the elephants have been moving towards human habitation which result in conflict,” said Debojit Moran, an environmentalist.
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Moran said, “It is a very big problem and the concerned authorities should take steps to solve the problem. A few months ago, a 71-year-old was trampled to death at Durgabari area in Digboi,” Moran said.
“The elephants are now moving towards human settlements in Digboi due to the blocking of their corridors. Due to the oil terminal, the elephants are facing huge problem. The elephants are not getting safe passage due to the blocking of their corridors,” he added.