Apeejay- WWF join hands to reduce impact of Human- elephant conflict

Apeejay Tea, a part of the Apeejay Surendra group has tied up with WWF-India in its fight to prevent and manage human-elephant conflict in Assam. Under the partnership a three year exhaustive management strategy will be implemented.

The first phase of the project will commence immediately in Sonitpur - where there have been 206 human and 131 elephant deaths in the district between 1996 and 2009 - with several new ideas aimed at reducing the loss of life and damage to crop and property. WWF had earlier implemented the "Sonitpur model" in collaboration with the Assam forest department where locals are trained and equipped to form anti-depredation squads that can drive the wild elephants back using searchlights, firecrackers and kunki (trained elephants).

The new project will first undertake a three-month assessment of the damage and focus on prevention and containment measures. It will calculate the amount of loss in terms of damage to crop, infrastructure, as well as injuries to residents.