Tripura to Launch Elephant Safari in Atharamura Range to Boost Ecotourism Agartala, June 16— In a bid to promote ecotourism and address ...
Tripura to Launch Elephant Safari in Atharamura Range to Boost Ecotourism
Agartala, June 16— In a bid to promote ecotourism and address rising man-elephant conflicts, the Tripura Forest Department is set to launch an elephant safari in the Atharamura range of Khowai district. The safari will operate across a 1.5-kilometer stretch in the Mungiakami forest, utilizing trained elephants from the Mungiakami elephant camp to ferry tourists through the lush terrain.
State wildlife officials confirmed that the safari aims to showcase the region’s natural beauty and biodiversity while offering visitors a unique experience deep within Tripura's forests.
A detailed proposal for the initiative has already been submitted to the state government. As part of a broader conservation strategy, the forest department is also developing a corridor linking the Atharamura and Kalajhari ranges to enable safe passage for wild elephants and reduce human-wildlife conflict in nearby foothill villages.
Officials revealed that Khowai district, rich in hills, rivers, and forests, has already seen the development of several ecotourism sites. The upcoming elephant safari is expected to become one of the main attractions for both domestic and international tourists.
To support the initiative, the Forest Department is ensuring an adequate food supply within the elephants’ habitat. Plans include excavating ponds and launching large-scale tree plantations to prevent elephants from straying into human settlements. “If adequate food is arranged, elephants will not stray away, which will go a long way in reducing man-animal conflict,” a forest official said.
In a parallel conservation effort, the state has also established an elephant reserve in Gandhari, Gomati district. Spanning over 123.8 square kilometers, the reserve aims to protect the dwindling elephant population in Tripura. Officials noted that elephants had not been seen in inhabited areas around Agartala until recent decades, a shift attributed to deforestation and developmental projects like the hydropower initiative along the Gomati River.
The destruction of forest cover forced elephants to migrate from their traditional habitats, with some even crossing into neighboring Bangladesh in search of refuge.
The upcoming safari marks a significant step in balancing tourism, conservation, and conflict mitigation in Tripura’s forested regions.
(Source: UNI)
