On the occasion of World Elephant Day (12 August 2023), HEAL’s local team in Jhargram, led by Field Officer Rabin Mahato, conducted an awareness campaign across Kendadangri Panchayat area in Jamboni Block.

This particular region frequently witnesses the movement of elephant herds. Therefore, the main objective of the campaign was to educate and sensitize the local communities about responsible behavior around elephants, so as to prevent any potential harm to both people and the pachyderms.

In another part of the state, in recognition of our ongoing and past efforts to alleviate human-elephant conflict and foster healthy coexistence between people and wildlife in West Bengal, we were invited as a guest of honour at a felicitation program in Jalpaiguri by Solitary Nature & Animal Protection (SNAP) Foundation .

The program was organised in collaboration with Nature Mates Nature Club, Wildlife Trust of India, Life Trust, TEESTA Trust, and Voice for Asian Elephants Society (USA), to honour the tireless contribution of the frontline forest staff of various Forest Divisions in North Bengal, eminent individuals and conservation organisations towards preservation of wildlife.

We are elated by this appreciation and we dedicate it to our field teams in various districts, especially those in South Bengal, who work diligently with us to realize our vision of a harmonious coexistence between humans and elephants. May the elephant populations in South and North Bengal persist into the future and may humans have the capacity and are enabled to co-occur with them.