Itanagar, 29th January 2026: The D’Ering-Dibru Saikhowa elephant corridor project aims to secure the vital connectivity for Asian elephants and other key wildlife between D’ering Wildlife Sanctuary in Arunachal Pradesh and DibruSaikhowa National Park in Assam in partnership with the local community and forest department by setting aside and restoring a critical part of the corridor land as a Community Reserve.

Elephant-inspired handloom design represents the connection of the community with wildlife | Photo © Team WTI

As a part of the community livelihood support initiative under this project, the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), with support from World Land Trust (WLT), is working to empower the indigenous women weavers living within the DDS elephant corridor landscape by creating sustainable livelihood opportunities through handloom products that carry stories of community, culture and conservation. 

For the women of the community, weaving is not just a craft; it is a memory and inheritance of cultural heritage that they carry forward with each thread through generations. Each design, co-created by the woman artisans, amplifies the relationship between community identity and the surrounding ecological landscape. A central motif in these handloom products is the Asian elephant, inspired by the DDS elephant corridor itself. This design symbolises the traditional movement of elephants across the landscape and their long-standing coexistence with human communities. The zig-zag motif translates the cultural expression of the Mising community (indigenous riparian people) whose lives are closely intertwined with the floodplain ecosystem along the banks of the Siang River. This dynamic landscape sustains both human livelihoods and wildlife, shaping culture, craft, and conservation alike.

Handwoven cushion covers and other handloom products crafted by the women of DDS were exhibited at Saras Mela 2026 in Itanagar | Photo (© Team WTI

Recently, with the collaborative partnership between WTI and Arunachal State Rural Livelihood Mission (ArSRLM), the artisans from Mer village, East Siang district of DDS, had the opportunity to exhibit their elephant-inspired craft during Saras Mela (Fair) 2026 held from January 16-25 at Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh, organised by ArSRLM. This fair provided a meaningful platform for local entrepreneurs and artisans to showcase their skills, explore new marketing avenues, and transform traditional crafts into sustainable livelihood opportunities.