Tura, Nov 12: The Meghalaya Forest Department is reaching out to Nokmas, the traditional village leaders, to assist in spotting elephants as part of the state’s upcoming synchronized elephant estimation program.

With the Northeast being the last region in India to complete this phase of the national project, the department is relying on Nokmas to notify officials if they observe elephants in their areas.

Meghalaya has an estimated 1754 elephants according to 2017 census.

Officials say this collaboration is seen as vital for collecting accurate data and reducing potential human-elephant conflicts in remote and forested parts of the region.

The Nokmas’ timely reports will provide essential insights, guiding the forest department’s teams as they navigate the terrain to ensure effective data collection and swift responses to any conservation challenges that may arise.

This collaborative approach, rooted in community engagement, aligns with Meghalaya’s broader goals of sustainable wildlife management and emphasizes the Nokmas’ role as custodians of their lands and wildlife.

A Training of Trainers (TOT) workshop was held today at the Wildlife and Territorial Office in Tura, District Forest Officer (DFO) Rupankar K. Marak underscored the importance of this cooperation.

“The program will be very beneficial for us to gather new data,” he told Hub News. “We plan to begin the estimation by the first week of December, aiming to complete it within 8 to 10 days. Teams will be assigned specific grids to cover, and the support from Nokmas will be invaluable for spotting and reporting sightings.”

The workshop, attended by 83 forestry staff and officers from Williamnagar’s Territorial and Social Forestry Divisions and Tura’s Wildlife Division, introduced participants to new methods and tools for fieldwork. Representatives from the National Tiger Conservation Authority, including biologist Agatha Momin, and state biologist Nibir Medhi were also present, alongside other senior officials. A key highlight was the introduction of the M-STRIPES mobile app, an offline-capable tool used for tiger censuses, which will now aid in elephant estimation.

The department’s goal is to employ a combination of direct and indirect sighting methods, supplemented by DNA sampling from dung, to generate a comprehensive understanding of elephant populations.

Read: Tripura secures Rs 1,000 crore investment

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