Assam village grows food for wild elephants to end years of crop raids

Residents of Hatikhuli-Ronghang village in Assam have developed an unusual but effective way to coexist with wild elephants. The community established dedicated feeding zones stocked with grass and fruits along traditional elephant migration routes. This approach has significantly reduced crop damage that had long troubled local farmers. With elephant raids diminishing, villagers have been able to resume paddy cultivation. The effort, known as the Hati Bondhu initiative, is now being highlighted as a model for human-wildlife coexistence.