Groups cut razor wire in North Bengal tea estates
Conservation groups reduced razor wire fencing in North Bengal tea estates to help elephants move safely through their natural corridors.
In November 2018, alarm rose when sharp fences blocked elephant paths across the Dooars region and caused serious injuries to animals. The Wildlife Trust of India reported that random razor blades forced herds away from usual routes while some died trying to cross.
Seven years later, a reassessment showed the length of dangerous fencing fell from 134.7 km to 34.8 km across the assessed tea-estate landscape. This reduction represents a significant drop of 74.2% over the period between 2019 and 2026 for local conservation efforts.
Stakeholder meetings held in Chalsa brought together tea representatives and government agencies to discuss elephant-friendly management strategies for the area. Participants committed to removing existing barriers and avoiding new installations to keep movement routes open for wild animals.
A new survey also identified low-hanging power lines as another major hazard threatening elephant safety along their migration paths. Conservationists plan joint actions with electricity companies to fix these electrical dangers and improve overall landscape safety.