The cacophony may not have scared the elephants away for good

Jorhat wetlands go off bird radar

- Cracker burst to keep jumbos away puts off avian visitors
PULLOCK DUTTA

Jorhat may be missing its winter guests, but the avian visitors have not abandoned their Nagaon home. A flock of ducks take flight at Jamuna wetland on Thursday. Picture by Eastern Projections

Guwahati, Dec. 6: Assam is having a lean season not only in terms of winter tourists but migratory birds, too.

If violence is keeping tourists away this winter, migratory birds are staying away from one of their favourite seasonal habitats in the state because of the man-elephant conflict.

For the past three months, the forest department and residents of villages in Jorhat district have been bursting crackers regularly to keep rampaging elephant herds at bay. The cacophony may not have scared the elephants away for good, but it has certainly kept winged avian visitors from roosting in the wetlands they used to unfailingly visit until last year.

The Telegraph - Calcutta : Northeast

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