The campaign was held under Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) - “Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats”- Outside Protected Areas- Human –Animal Conflict Mitigation- of the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, government of India New Delhi.

The event was part of a series of campaigns organised by the Forest Department throughout the State.

Wildlife Warden, Dimapur, K. Caroline Angami, in her address, welcomed the participants. She gave a brief background of the existing problem in the State.

Bhandari ADC and chief guest of the event, NuchumbemoOdyuo, appreciated the continuity of the dialogue between the public of the Bhandari- Sub-division affected with human-elephant problem and the Forest-Department officials dealing with human-elephant conflict. He stated that big problems had been solved by having these dialogues.

The ADC termed the problem of human-elephant conflict as peculiar in Wokha, Zunheboto and Mokochung districts. He said existing elephant corridors, routes for movement of elephants between Assam and Nagaland are blocked, both in Assam as well as in Nagaland, due to biotic interference.

He informed that the land of elephant corridors does not belong to the government and at the same time the state government does not have any fund to address the issue. “There is no possibility of opening already blocked elephant corridors between Assam and Nagaland”, he said.

Chief Wildlife Warden, Nagaland, Satya Prakash Tripathi, in his key note address, stated the genesis of the human animal conflict prevalent in the state in general and in Wokha district in particular.

He highlighted the policies of the state Government and the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Government of India, New Delhi for addressing the problem.

Tripathi appealed to the people for protection of forest and wildlife and contact forest officials immediately in case of damage of their crop/ properties/ human life.

On behalf of the affected public with elephant’s problem, LLRPO president, C. ElithungOdyuo, spoke on the existing problem faced by the public with wild elephants. He also gave a representation to the Forest Department for addressing the issue permanently.

The matter was thoroughly discussed and it was agreed upon that the concerned villagers would discuss in their respective villages and submit proposal through the ADC, Dimapur.

Tsunseki-- a representative from Bhutan Glory Eco. Club, Fakkim, shared a brief history of the club. He spoke on how there is no life of human beings without life of –wild animals.

The campaign was followed by a demonstration on elephant repellent by the officials of the Wildlife Crime Control Unit, Wildlife Division, Dimapur. The programme was chaired byConservator of Forests (NTC), Mokokchung, and Intanki National Park, Dimapur, director, Y. M. Jami, invocation by Lotha Church Bhandari, associate pastor, Yanthen and vote of thanks by Wildlife Crime Control Unit, Wildlife Division, Dimapur, SosinleMagh.

Around 100 persons from Bhandari Sub-division, Forest Department, NGOs, chairmen/members of village councils of the villages affected with human- elephant conflict participated in the campaign.