Wild elephants in Udalguri
File photo of wild elephants seen in Udalguri. Photo credit - YouTube Representative image

GUWAHATI: Due to the ongoing man-elephant conflict in Nagaon district, the Forest Division has taken a new innovative measure of using a sophisticated device known as radio collar to tackle the wild jumbos .

According to the sources, the device will be operated through GPRS system where the movement of elephants can easily be traced.

The forest personnel will first tranquilize one of the jumbos of the herd and then hang the device around its neck. Subsequently, the jumbo will be sent back to the herd. When the herd of jumbos again move towards human habitat, forest personnel as well as the public of the locality will get a signal about their movement.

The decision of the proposed device was recently finalized in a high-level meeting held at the office of DFO, Nagaon.

The higher authority of the state forest department has already approved it and given the green signal to execute it immediately.

Due to rapid deforestation in Nagaon district by constant felling of trees, elephant fodder has reduced drastically which causes elephants to come at the human settlements and cause fear among the people living near the forest areas.

Earlier, the Nagaon Forest Division has constructed 22 km solar-powered fencing at forest borderline to stop the entry of elephant herds, reports The Assam Tribune.

Though the fencing was created in those zones where the elephant herds usually make corridors, they change their tracks every time and take turns in some new ways.