Old Aree Village under Wokha district has reported a sharp rise in incidents involving wild elephants this month, triggering fear and serious concern among villagers whose livelihoods depend largely on farming.

According to Old Aree Village Chairman Liponthung Lotha, at least five farm huts along with extensive cultivation of sugarcane and tapioca have been damaged due to elephant intrusion in recent days.

One of the affected farmers, Rikhyothung Kikon, informed that his farmhouse and several crops including oranges, pineapples and different varieties of tapioca were destroyed by elephants on December 8, 2025. He stated that farmers usually work in the fields during the day, while elephants arrive in the evening after they return home, making it difficult to confront or prevent the damage.

Though he has not seen the animals directly, Kikon said that based on the footprints left behind, around ten elephants frequently visit the area. He added that the village chairman had informed the concerned department, following which officials visited the site, assessed the damage, collected photographs and completed the necessary documentation.

Stating that farming is the primary source of livelihood for the villagers, Kikon appealed to the concerned department to urgently intervene and provide a long-term solution. “Among all the lands in our village, this is the biggest farming area. Our survival depends on it,” he said.

Village Chairman, Liponthung Lotha described the situation as “serious and genuine,” stating that wild elephants have severely disturbed the livelihood of the villagers. He informed that elephants are currently stationed in two separate groups—one in the Longkhum area and the other close to the village—making movement unsafe, especially during night hours.

“The elephants come very close to the settlement at night. Their presence can be clearly heard, and people are worried about their safety,” Lotha said. He also revealed that an elephant calf was born near the village last month, and the matter had already been reported to higher authorities, including the Deputy Commissioner of Wokha.

Another affected farmer, Wodemo Kikon, shared that his three-acre sugarcane plantation, estimated to yield an income of around ₹3 lakh, has been completely destroyed. “This cultivation supports my family and my children’s education,” he said.

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He further stated that 300 to 400 teak trees were damaged and a jaggery-making machine, which he had borrowed from a friend due to lack of machinery, was also destroyed by the elephants. Expressing deep distress, he said he is now uncertain how to compensate his friend or rebuild his livelihood. “This is the best season for making jaggery, but everything has been destroyed,” he lamented.

Wodemo also pointed out that villagers in the Doyang area have not been able to cultivate their fields for the past 15 to 20 years due to prolonged elephant presence. “Now the elephants have started destroying our current fields as well,” he said, adding that the animals are now only about one kilometre away from the village settlement.

The villagers believe that around 30 to 40 wild elephants are roaming the area in different groups, posing a serious threat not only to agriculture but also to human life.

Residents have urged the authorities to take immediate and effective measures to prevent further damage and ensure the safety of the village.