Ripening of paddy escalates human-elephant conflict in India

Farmers in Kondoli village, located in the Nagaon District of Assam, are using 'tongi ghors' or tree houses perched high up in the branches near their agricultural fields to protect their crops from elephants, as of November 1, 2023. The human-elephant conflict is escalating in Assam, particularly during the harvest season as the ripening paddy fields attract elephants. With the increase in such conflicts, the elephants often venture into human habitations and agricultural lands, leading to crop depredation. To combat this, in some areas, the Forest Department has implemented measures such as solar fencing to deter elephants from encroaching on human settlements and paddy fields.