The Elephant Welfare Trust Gaja Bandhab organized a discussion event titled ‘Gaj Alap’ on Saturday at Hotel Rajdhani Regency in Dispur, Guwahati. Centered around the theme of human-elephant coexistence, the event addressed critical issues such as human-elephant conflicts across Assam, the crisis of food and habitat for elephants, and solutions to various elephant-related challenges.
In this inaugural edition of Gaj Alap, Padma Shri awardee and renowned South-East Asia elephant expert Dr. Kushal Konwar Sarma shed light on elephant behavior, their ecological importance, and the shrinking availability of food and habitat. He emphasized the need for elephant conservation and fostering harmonious coexistence with humans.
Rohini Ballave Saikia, IFS, Deputy Conservator of Forest from the Assam Forest Department, delivered a presentation outlining the state government’s initiatives to reduce human-elephant conflicts and promote coexistence. His presentation highlighted the department’s efforts and strategies in this regard.
The open discussion session featured valuable insights from Hiren Ch Nath, IPS, ADGP (SB), Assam Police, retired forest officers Dibyadhar Gogoi and Mrigen Baruah, former Head of the Zoology Department at Gauhati University, Professor Prashanta Kumar Saikia, and Dr. Munmun Sarma, Professor of Anatomy & Histology at the College of Veterinary Science. They shared their experiences and offered suggestions to address elephant-related issues effectively.
The event was attended by distinguished individuals, including Dr. Sayanika Dutta Sarma, Head of the Department of Mass Communication, Journalism & Media Studies at Cotton University; Dr. Nilakshi Kalita, Director of Assam School of Journalism; Dr. Ranjan Kakati, Director of Student Welfare at Gauhati University; Indrajit Das, an officer from All India Radio, Guwahati; and public opinion consultant Abhinav P. Baruah, along with several students and youth representatives.
Under the leadership of Bhaskarjyoti Das, a nature and wildlife enthusiast from Guwahati, Gaja Bandhab has been working tirelessly to raise awareness about elephant conservation, their challenges, and the importance of human-elephant harmony. Bhaskarjyoti’s relentless efforts aim to reduce human-elephant conflicts and create an environment of peaceful coexistence in Assam.
