Itanagar, Mar 6: Arunachal Pradesh Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Wangki Lowang attributed the increasing human-wildlife conflicts in the state to habitat loss caused by development activities and shifting cultivation. He urged public awareness and community-led solutions to mitigate such incidents.

Speaking in response to a private member’s resolution by Congress MLA Kumar Waii in the Assembly, Lowang said that development projects disrupt wildlife corridors, forcing animals into human settlements. He added that stressed ecosystems and declining prey populations exacerbate conflicts, while tribal shifting cultivation further fragments habitats.

The minister noted that the Forest Department plays an indirect role in stabilizing wildlife behavior through protection measures. For long-term solutions, he recommended community-based prevention, rapid response teams, fair compensation, and landscape-level planning to safeguard both wildlife corridors and local livelihoods.

Lowang also disclosed that proposals have been sent to the Centre for installing solar fencing and trenches in conflict-prone zones and providing ex-gratia funds to victims’ families. He advocated for a state ban on airguns and suggested that the Assembly form a committee to study the issue.

MLA Kumar Waii highlighted recent fatalities, including Police head constable Chikseng Manpung, killed by a tiger near Mayudia on February 2; ASI Martin Lego, killed by a wild elephant near the Lohit riverbank on February 21; and former MLA Kapchen Rajkumar, who died in Tirap district last July.

Senior BJP MLAs Mahesh Chai, Honchun Ngandam, and Wanglin Lowangdong called for stricter legislation, while Deputy Speaker Kardo Nyigyor assured the Assembly that a study committee would be formed.

Lowang emphasized the need for integrated measures to strengthen wildlife protection while ensuring community resilience in high-risk areas.