SEIJOSA, 12 Aug: World Elephant Day 2026 was celebrated at the conference hall of Pakke Wildlife Sanctuary and Tiger Reserve (PWS&TR) here on Wednesday.
The programme was jointly organised by the Assam Wildlife Research and Rescue Organisation (AWRRO), in partnership with the state forest department, in the presence of representatives from the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), forest department, AWRRO, Gram Panchayat members, local communities, frontline forest personnel, mahouts and other stakeholders.
Divisional forest officer of PWS&TR Dhawan Kumar Rawat, in his address, emphasised the need to conserve elephant corridors and their habitats.
"Maintaining functional corridors and protecting suitable habitats are essential for facilitating the natural movement of elephants and reducing conflict with human settlements," Rawat said.
He also underscored the importance of collaboration among the forest department, local communities, Panchayati Raj Institutions and conservation organisations in achieving long-term elephant conservation.
As part of the celebration, Gram Panchayat members were felicitated in recognition of their support and cooperation towards wildlife conservation and community participation.
A special felicitation ceremony was also organised to honour the mahouts for their dedication and contribution towards elephant conservation and the care and management of camp elephants.
The programme also included the feeding of camp elephants, highlighting the importance of regular nutrition, attentive care and responsible management in maintaining the health and welfare of elephants under human care.
During the programme, Doley Tayem, a resident of A3 village, shared his experiences with the solar-powered fencing installed in his village through a collaborative initiative of WWF, the forest department and the local community.
Sharing his experience, Tayem highlighted how the fencing has helped villagers protect their agricultural crops from crop raiding by wild elephants.
World Elephant Day is celebrated globally to highlight the ecological importance of elephants and draw attention to the challenges faced by them.
