117 Rapid Response Unit (RRU) members from various human-elephant conflict (HEC) affected areas in eastern Assam districts have been trained to raise early alarms over the presence of wild elephants in the proximity of human settlements.
The training, organised by biodiversity conservation organisation Aaranyak and British Asian Trust with support from Darwin Initiatives, took place from March 19 to 21 in Tinsukia, Sivasagar, and Jorhat districts.
The RRU members, who are closely networked through WhatsApp groups, will be responsible for monitoring the movements of elephant herds and disseminating information among the group members as soon as they spot wild elephants close to human habitats.
The training covered topics such as identifying elephants in a herd, their distribution, and the various causes of growing conflict in Northeast India. The RRU members were also trained in various mitigation tools for minimising human-elephant conflict and facilitating coexistence.
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The training was attended by members of anti-depredation squads (ADS) of the Assam Forest Department and other Forest staff.
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