Guwahati: An awareness and interaction programme on human–wildlife coexistence was organised at Chattargaon in Rani under Kamrup district on March 10, bringing together villagers, students and wildlife experts to discuss ways of reducing conflicts between humans and animals, particularly elephants.
The programme was held at the Community Hall in Chattargaon and was organised by the Centre for Wildlife and Environmental Studies (CWES) of Girijananda Chowdhury University in collaboration with the university’s National Service Scheme (NSS) Unit I and the Guwahati-based conservation organisation Aranyak.
More than 60 villagers from Chattargaon participated in the programme along with around 20 representatives from CWES, NSS volunteers and students from the Sociology, Zoology and Botany departments of the university.
The interaction provided a platform for community members, students and experts to share experiences and discuss the practical challenges of living in areas where human settlements overlap with wildlife habitats.
During the discussion, villagers highlighted the difficulties they face in their day-to-day lives due to the frequent movement of elephants through the region. Participants also exchanged views on possible measures to minimise conflicts while ensuring the safety of both humans and wildlife.
Experts and organisers offered several suggestions to help villagers maintain coexistence with elephants while reducing risks. The discussions also focused on strengthening local livelihoods by encouraging activities such as animal husbandry, adopting suitable agricultural practices and cultivating crops that are less likely to attract elephants.
The programme also emphasised the importance of community participation and dialogue between local residents and academic institutions to address human–wildlife conflicts more effectively.
According to organisers, insights gathered from the interaction will contribute to ongoing and future research on human–animal coexistence being undertaken by the Centre for Wildlife and Environmental Studies (CWES).