Sherpur:The escalating conflict between humans and wild elephants in the Garo Hills of Sherpur district has emerged as a significant threat to human lives, livelihoods, and wildlife conservation. This situation has led experts, relevant authorities, researchers, and local residents to call for a comprehensive and coordinated approach to ensure the safe coexistence of people and elephants.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the human-elephant conflict is intensifying in the region, endangering local communities and wild elephants. Experts emphasize that the crisis demands a comprehensive strategy beyond merely driving elephants away or providing compensation for damages. This strategy should include forest habitat restoration, protection of elephant corridors, implementation of early-warning systems, community awareness initiatives, stronger forest department monitoring, and cooperation with India to restore traditional cross-border movement of the elephants.
Adnan Azad, a trainer with the Bangladesh Elephant Response Team, highlighted the need for comprehensive planning to protect human lives while ensuring a safe habitat for elephants. He stressed the importance of collaboration among all relevant stakeholders. Azad advised against injuring or attempting to unsafely drive away elephants when they enter settlements. Instead, he recommended seeking assistance from trained response teams and enhancing public awareness, as well as stronger coordination between communities and the Forest Department.
Forest Department sources report that around 120 wild elephants currently roam the forest areas and surrounding regions of three border upazilas, with herds typically comprising 30 to 40 animals. In search of food, these elephants frequently enter settlements and agricultural lands, causing damage to crops and homes and increasing the risk of human casualties while losing their safe habitats and traditional movement routes.
Local farmers, such as Sunil Marak from Jhenaigati and Chinmoy Mrong from Nalitabari, face nightly struggles to protect their crops from elephants. They have called for effective crop protection measures, compensation, regular forest patrols, early warnings, and community training to ensure both human and elephant safety.
According to data from the Mymensingh Forest Division, crop damage from human-elephant conflict in Sherpur affected approximately 435 hectares of land between the 2024-25 and 2025-26 fiscal years. During the period from 2014 to 2026, elephant attacks resulted in 29 human fatalities and 26 injuries, with substantial damage to homes, structures, and trees. Additionally, 30 wild elephants died due to various causes, including man-made electric traps.
The Forest Department has reported that the government distributed financial compensation to affected individuals and families. However, residents continue to face crop losses and safety concerns. Officials suggest that widening elephant corridors, improving forest food availability, and considering the expansion of farmland and settlements are crucial steps to mitigate the conflict.
At a discussion on human-elephant conflict and conservation at Madhutila Eco Park, Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo announced plans to initiate discussions with India to reopen border gates, facilitating elephant movement. The government also plans to develop Sherpur's forests into a safe habitat for elephants while exploring tourism opportunities centered on the natural environment and wildlife of the Garo Hills.
Residents and experts believe that coordinated action to restore migration routes, improve forest habitats, establish early-warning systems, and protect border communities, coupled with sustained cooperation between Bangladesh and India, could help secure a future where people and wild elephants coexist safely in the Garo Hills.