In a significant move to reduce human-elephant conflicts, a 16 km solar fence was inaugurated on World Elephant Day recently, in the southern part of Raimona National Park, Assam. The initiative, backed by WWF-India in partnership with the Kachugaon Forest Division, Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), and Aaranyak, aims to protect both human and elephant populations in the region.
The solar fence, installed along the periphery of seven villages — Dumbazar, Amritpur, Oxiguri, Raimona, Charaigaon, Janali, and Bongaon — will safeguard over 2,498 households. This cost-effective solution is designed for ease of maintenance, with a local fence maintenance committee formed to oversee its ongoing management.
Key officials attending the inauguration included Suman Mohapatro, Chief of the BTC Forest Department; Bhanu Sinha, Divisional Forest Officer of Kachugaon; Anupam Sarmah, Team Leader of the Brahmaputra Landscape at WWF-India; Sanatan Deka, Manager of Manas Landscape at WTI; and WWF-India’s Associate Coordinators, Sunit Das and David Smith.
Declared a national park in 2021, Raimona National Park spans 422 sq km and is part of the Ripu-Chirang Elephant Reserve. The park hosts various species, including tigers, elephants, and the endangered Golden Langur. The new solar fence expands upon the success of a previous 11 km fence installed in 2023 along the park’s southern boundary, which has already benefited around 247 households in four villages.
This solar fence initiative is part of broader efforts to manage the frequent human-elephant interactions in the area. Assam, which holds the second-largest elephant population in Bharat, reported 5,719 elephants in 2017 and witnessed 208 elephant deaths and over 561 human fatalities due to conflicts between 2014 and 2022.
The solar fence is designed not only to prevent conflicts but also to allow the movement of other animals, including livestock and wild ungulates. Both the local community and the Forest Department will monitor the fence to ensure its effectiveness and proper maintenance.
