Meghalaya border guards learn elephant safety protocols

Shillong: In a landmark move to address conservation challenges along the Indo-Bangladesh border, Border Security Force (BSF) personnel stationed at Gumaghat Border Outpost in South-West Khasi Hills district underwent specialised training on wildlife encounters, with a key focus on managing interactions with wild elephant herds. The training, organised by the Meghalaya Forest Department, was attended by 33 officers of the 193rd BSF Battalion and marks a proactive response to growing incidents of elephants crossing the international boundary—an increasingly common phenomenon as elephant corridors intersect with border patrol routes. Experts from conservation NGO Aaranyak, including Dr. Bibhuti Prasad Lahkar and Abhijit Baruah, conducted detailed sessions on Asian elephant behaviour, psychological cues, and techniques to avoid conflict. The program equipped personnel with critical knowledge on how to safely handle elephant encounters during their routine patrols. Another key focus of the session was wildlife trafficking, with Dr. Jimmy Borah from Aaranyak’s Legal and Advocacy Division presenting on transboundary smuggling trends. He provided BSF personnel with tools to identify and respond to illegal wildlife trade, which is a growing threat in border regions. The initiative was overseen by Inspector Shravan Kumar of the BSF and coordinated by Joseph Sawkmie, Beat Officer at Mawkyrwat Wildlife Beat. Sankupar Kharsyntiew, Forest Range Officer of Nongstoin Wildlife Range, announced plans for joint patrols and coordinated response strategies to mitigate human-elephant conflicts. This collaborative training underscores a vital partnership between security forces and conservation agencies, setting a precedent for wildlife-sensitive border management in the Northeast.