Safe corridor for elephants is on the offing: Minister

By  Firstdespatch Desk   May 22, 2025

Agartala, May 22 (FD) Tripura Forest Minister Animesh Debbarma on Thursday said a safe corridor is being constructed for wild elephants at Teliamura in Khowai district on the National Highway 08 for wild animals.

“There are only 40 wild animals in the state so authorities are always concerned about man elephant conflict and working proactively to minimize the conflicts”, Debbarma told reporters.

The elephants are located in the districts of Khowai, Dhalai and Gomati.

The department officials are trying hard to minimize the conflict by adopting traditional methods with modern surveillance and community engagements.

“I hope the safe corridor would be completed on NH08 by next winter. We have spoken with the NHIDCL and agreed to cooperate with us” he added.

He said the government is also keen to convert the Sipahijala ZOO into a modern and world class zoo.

“The condition has improved a lot and due to proper environment a tigress has given birth to three babies. Without proper environment and proper infrastructures it would not have been possible”, he said.

He further said that the government has plans to plant more trees in the state because with plants and without creating proper biological diversity the people cannot survive.

“We must make sure huge tree plantation, and we need oxygen, water. Another issue is the conflict between wildlife and humans, because humans are now consuming the food of wildlife, and their lands are being intruding upon. We must ensure to stop all such things and have to make sure the balance is maintained,” he added. FD JK