Guwahati, Nov. 12: The residents of Ram Terang in Karbi Anglong will make way for an elephant corridor this Christmas by relocating to another village, a step that marks a milestone in efforts to give passage to elephants.
The Kalapahar-Daigurung corridor will be cleared for the gentle giants next month with the construction of New Ram Terang village where all the 19 families have decided to relocate. The village, 6km away, was yesterday dedicated to Mark Shand, the founder of Elephant Family in the handing-over ceremony. Shand is known for his work on welfare of Asian elephants.
The ceremony, attended by senior forest officials, the chief executive officers of Elephant Family and Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) among others, kicked off with a traditional welcome and the unveiling of terracotta reliefs, dedicated to Shand and the people of Karbi Anglong.
Ram Terang village is located in the middle of a natural corridor, used by the elephants to move between Kalapahar and Daigurung-Nambor wildlife sanctuary in the Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong landscape. It took almost five years of continued efforts by the WTI officials to persuade the villagers of Ram Terang to shift to a new place.
Overwhelmed by the efforts of the people, WTI and forest officials, Ruth Powys, CEO, Elephant Family said, "An entirely new village comes to fruition today. We have solved a problem both for elephants and people. Elephant Family is proud to be a part of this venture. I can feel that Mark is with us today. Now, every child can play here without danger, and every elephant can move without conflict."
Abhijit Rabha, additional principal chief conservator of forests, Karbi Anglong forest department, has been patronising this conservation effort since its inception with support from the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council to secure the corridor, a first-of-its kind effort in eastern India.
Prodip Singnar, executive member (forest) of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council, said, "I am happy to see that the villagers of Ram Terang have taken a pragmatic decision to free the area. I am sure this will motivate other villagers to do the same and lead a happy life free from elephant conflict."
Both Elephant Family and WTI have provided support to the villagers, mostly farmers, to continue with their livelihood in their new village. The villagers have been provided with land, drinking water, support to set up piggery and dairy farms and even a weaving centre for women.
Jagdish Kishwan, adviser to CEO and executive director of WTI thanked the villagers for their unique cooperation.
"I am proud and happy that my WTI team and villagers of Ram Terang have worked together and developed such a close relationship based on mutual trust and confidence they have decided to voluntarily shift to this location. It will be our endeavour to complete the construction of all houses as quickly as possible," Kishwan said.
