'Gajah Kotha Project' started to reduce human-elephant conflict in Assam
To reduce the growing Human-Elephant Conflict (HEC) in the state of Assam, Aranyak has launched an innovative outreach campaign called 'Gajah Kotha' (The Elephant Story). It promotes coexistence between local communities and the elephants, which includes more than 1,200 individuals.
The initiative has been launched with the support of Aaranyak, a leading wildlife NGO based in Guwahati, and the Darwin Initiative, in collaboration with the British Asian Trust and the Assam Forest Department.
So far, the campaign has taken place at various places like Haladhibari, Jaborchuk Kathoni, Gajera, Gajera High School, Ujani Majuli Kherkatiya High School, Pub Majuli Kherkatiya High School, Jaborchuk Basa and Jopanchuk of Majuli.
With a rich elephant population of around 5,000 Asian elephants, Assam is second only to Karnataka in terms of elephant population in India.
'Gajah Kotha Project'
Encroachment on natural habitats, fragmentation of forests, and inadequate management of elephant corridors have played a role in increasing these conflicts. The initiative targets HEC-affected villages in eastern Assam and educates them about elephant behavior, ecology, and cultural connection to the region and the importance of their conservation.
