Ministry publishes manual to mitigate attacks by elephants

Pune-based NGO behind guidelines to protect crops

Taking cue from a city-based NGO on their efforts to prevent damage caused to crops by elephants and mitigating man-animal conflict, the central government has published a reference manual. The manual would act as a guideline to all the 17 states in India to mitigate man-animal conflict with respect to elephants. The book, There’s Many a Way to Keep the Elephant Away, focusses on the review of crop protection and elephant management techniques under the community-based conflict management (CBCM) methods.

Rajiv Srivastava, former director of the elephant project and member of central project elephant monitoring committee of the government of India, said the manual would prove useful in mitigating the man-animal conflict. “Among all the conflicts reported with wildlife, issues with the elephant are most worrying. About 500 people die every year in India and at least 100 elephants either die or get severely injured,” Srivastava said. He added that crop raiding is a major issue and guidelines are needed to ensure that conflicts are kept to a minimum.

“Every state that has elephant population is facing the problem for which a participatory approach is required,” he said. “There have been guidelines and documents issued on preventive measures, but this is the first time that a manual has been released on a big scale,” Srivastava said.

Speaking to Mirror, Noyal Thomas, inspector general of forest and director of Project Elephant, run by the ministry of environment, forests and climate change, said, “The manual has been circulated to all the states. The states will ensure that best suitable practices are implemented depending on the region.”

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Wild elephants kill 3 in Odisha, toll in man-animal conflict rises to new high of 85

Wild elephants spread panic across three villages in Odisha Friday night and Saturday morning, killing three persons including a 7-year-old child and injuring another, pushing the toll of human casualties in man-animal conflict to an all-time high of 85, officials said.

In 2017-18, 84 people were killed by elephants.

In Dhenkanal district, the ground-zero of man-elephant conflict, a 65-year-old man was trampled by an elephant while going to village pond for a bath. Dayanidhi Sahu was attacked by an elephant and died on the sport, said Dhenkanal divisional forest officer Sudarshan Patra. Angry locals later staged a road blockade on National Highway 55 near the village demanding compensation for family members of the deceased.

In Deulabeda area of neighbouring Angul district, 80-year-old Kedar Nath Prasad was going to a shop when a tusker allegedly attacked and trampled him to death on the spot. Locals alleged that two tuskers had strayed into the area from Mahabiroad forest range on February 28, one of which attacked Kedar Nath.

In Sundargarh district, a 7-year-old boy of Baraghat village died after a wall collapsed on him when an elephant tried to enter his home Friday night. The elephant tried to enter the home of the boy to eat paddy when a portion of the wall collapsed on the child who was asleep. The child was rushed to the hospital where doctors declared him dead early Saturday morning.

Officials said the growing man-elephant conflict in the state has also created an all-time record of 159 face-offs this year compared to 120 last year. Similarly, the number of injured human beings also reached an all-time high, almost doubling from 54 last year to 101 this year.

“Growing anthropogenic pressure on elephant habitats is the main reason for conflict. The fragmentation of elephant corridors is forcing the wild animals to head towards human habitations. In many parts of Odisha, people and elephants are increasingly coming into conflict over living space and food due to expanding human populations,” said Ranjit Patnaik of Wildlife Society of Odisha, a leading wildlife NGO of the State.

Patnaik said a total of 570 people were killed in Odisha due to elephant attacks between 2011-12 and 2017-18. During the same period, 618 elephants died and 7984 houses and 11,500 acres of standing crops were destroyed.

Former chief wildlife warden BK Patnaik said the situation was likely to get worse this month with rising day temperatures. “As more and more elephants would come out to eat paddy near human settlements, we may see more human-elephant conflicts. We have to quickly take steps to bring the situation under control,” Patnaik said.

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Kerala moots jumbo corridor linking forests, sanctuaries

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With incidents of man-animal conflict being
widely reported in Kerala, the state has embarked on an ambitious project
to link its forests and sanctuaries to create a continuous path for the free
movement of elephants.

The project that intends to create a continuous corridor from north end to
the south will be undertaken using the funds given by the ministry of
environment, forest and climate change (MoEFCC). Government has
submitted the proposal to the Centre for linking seven corridors in
northern districts, in which four will require land acquisition. For the first
phase, seven corridors — identified by the ‘right of passage (elephant
passages of India)’ report 2017 by wildlife trust of India and MoEFCC —
have been shortlisted.

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Assam: SC orders demolition of NRL boundary wall for elephants

The Supreme Court of India on Friday dismissed an appeal filed by Numaligarh Refinery Ltd (NRL) and ordered demolition of the entire 2.2 km boundary wall blocking an elephant migration corridor in Deopahar Reserve Forest in Golaghat.

The apex court said that “Elephants have first right on forest”.

The wall became the eye of a storm in 2015 after a 7-year-old male elephant that had reportedly died of “severe haemorrhage” in May that year from violently thrusting against the wall.

The same year, environmentalists captured videos showing elephants trying to cross the high boundary wall.

The green crusaders then started demanding demolition of the wall built by the oil refinery. It was alleged that the wall and the refinery township were being built illegally in a “No Development Zone” declared by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF) in 1996.

In August 2016, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) ordered NRL to demolish the entire length of the wall within a month. But only a 289-metre stretch was demolished.

As per reports, the NRL challenged the NGT order, saying the entire wall need not be demolished as it is not a part of Deopahar Reserve Forest in Golaghat.

Gauhati High Court has stayed any further demolition of the Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) boundary wall as ordered by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) last month.

The NRL claimed it had paid Rs 25 lakh to the State Forest Department, which will be kept in a separate bank account for restoration of the area and for the improvement of the surroundings adjoining the NRL complex and to reduce man-animal conflict especially man-elephant conflict.

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Elephants kill 3 people in India

NEW DELHI, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- A mother-daughter duo and a forest official were killed Monday in two separate elephant attacks in India, officials said.

The mother and daughter were killed in India's eastern state of Jharkhand, while the forest official was killed in southern state of Andhra Pradesh.

"Today in the morning a woman and her daughter were trampled to death by elephants in Rampur village of Gumla," an official posted in Ranchi told Xinhua over the phone.

According to forest department officials, a herd of elephants entered a village, triggering panic among villagers.

"Eyewitnesses told us seven elephants surrounded the house of Archna Devi and destroyed it. The herd trampled her to death along with her daughter, when she tried to escape the attacking animals."

The elephants later on returned to the forest area after damaging many houses and properties in the village.

In a separate incident a 43-year-old forest official was also trampled to death by an elephant in Andhra Pradesh.

Every year many people get killed or injured in the growing man-animal conflict across India.

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Man-animal conflict escalations that grabbed our attention in 2018

New Delhi: With an ever-extending push to metropolitanization, natural habitats in India are facing the brunt of urbanisation. The constant nature of this change is leading to escalations being dubbed as the man-animal conflict across the country, several notable instances of which have dominated headlines for a large part of the year. We take this time to look back at confrontations between animals and human beings that shaped public discourse across India in 2018.

Lake Placid:

In Tamil Nadu's capital city, crocodiles reportedly swarmed Chennai's Nedungundram lake triggering panic amongst villagers living near the Tambaram and Velechery areas. According to reports by sections of the media, locals approached forest rangers and requested them to safeguard the area after a man who had gone into the lake to take a bath encountered a crocodile.

Jumbo Trouble:

In Kerala's Kozhikode district, residents living near the Peruvannamuzhi dam have been terrorised in recent weeks by a herd of wild elephants who locals claim have been destroying their crops and posing a serious danger to their lives and to the lives of their family members. Residents say that not just elephants but wild boars and other animals also wreak havoc in the area interrupting daily life.

Majestic Intrusion:

In November of this year, panic ensued at the Gujarat state secretariat in Ahmedabad after a leopard entered the secretariat compound causing mayhem. A team of forest rangers was rushed to the spot and managed to tranquilise and rescue the big cat following an operation which lasted for several hours. A similar incident was reported from the state's Surendranagar district where a leopard waltzed into a judicial magistrate court prompting advocates and passerby to run for their lives.

Aquatic Massacre:

A report by the Mumbai Mangrove Conservation Unit (MMCU) stated that the number of reported marine animal deaths along the Konkan coast rose by a staggering 183 per cent since 2014. Findings by the body suggested that while 27 such deaths were reported in all of 2017, 34 cases of deaths of marine animals came to light in just the first nine months of 2018.

'Killing' or 'murder':

The most notable issue relating to the ongoing man-animal conflict in India this year was the death of two-year-old Tigress T1, more commonly known as tigress Avni in Maharashtra's Yavatmal district. The majestic cat was shot dead by a hunter who was accompanied by a team of forest rangers. However, a report by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) shattered claims made by the Maharashtra government which told the Supreme Court that the tigress was shot dead and not tranquilised as directed by the top court because it was charging at the team which shot her. Avni's death triggered a spate of protests across the country with animal-rights activists among others organising massive protests.

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Elephants are getting choked, electrocuted, and even bombed to death in India

India’s escalating man-animal conflict is leaving its elephants with no safe home.

A recent heart-wrenching incident inside Karnataka’s Nagarhole National Park in southern India captures the gravity of the situation. On Dec. 15, a 42-year-old elephant suffocated to death after getting stuck in a seven feet high iron fence. Ironically, the fence was set up by forest authorities to protect the creatures by preventing them from straying into human settlements.

The elephant reportedly managed to cross over and raided a nearby agricultural field, after which it was chased away by villagers. But when it tried to climb over to return to the forest, it was trapped in the fence. “The diaphragm of the elephant got compressed very heavily due to the pressure that fell on it and because of that the choking of the respiratory organs occurred,” KM Narayanaswamy, conservator of forests and director of Nagarahole National Park, told The News Minute website.

The brutal death has sparked heavy criticism from activists who have raised concerns before about the risks of using such fences to keep wildlife away from human settlements.

But these fences are a part of the forest department’s strategy to minimise human-elephant conflict, which has increased as settlements close in on the latter’s diminishing natural habitat and traditional elephant corridors. In several Indian states, elephants straying onto farmland have destroyed crops, prompting the ire of villagers, who rarely receive enough compensation for their losses. They often respond by chasing away elephants with weapons and even fireballs, an approach recently outlawed by the supreme court of India.

India is home to about 60% of the world’s Asian elephants. But data from the environment ministry has shown that on average at least 80 elephants are killed annually by electrocution, poaching, train accidents, and poisoning. India’s 2017 elephant census revealed that since 2012 their population has declined by 10% to 27,312.

The Nagarhole incident is only the latest example this year of the tragic consequences of human-wildlife conflict, coming just a few days after the gruesome death of an eight-year-old elephant who had chewed a bomb left by poachers in Odisha. In October, a pachyderm known as “Rowdy Ranga” was mowed down by a speeding bus in Nagarhole, and a few weeks later, in Odisha again, seven elephants were electrocuted by a low-hanging power line.

Between April and mid-December, 65 elephants were killed in Odisha alone, most of them due to human interventions such as power lines, oncoming trains, and the construction of wells, tanks, and drains, which elephants have fallen into.

The only solution, conservationists say, is to restore elephant corridors and reduce the risk of the animals falling prey to humans. But little has happened on that front.

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Elephant dies while trying to cross railway fence near Nagarhole

Mysuru, Dec 15: A male elephant trying to cross over the railway fence met with a tragic end in Karnataka's Nagarhole National Park on Saturday.

The 42-year-old wild tusker, was chased away by villagers for attempting to return to the Veerahosahalli range of the national park when it came across the railway fence and attempted to scale it.

Acoording to the reports, the elephant got stuck with the iron made railway fencing and unfortunately couldn't manage to extricate itself from it and lost its life. His body was found dangling between the iron barricades.

The tusker which was around 42 years old had entered human habitation and raided an agricultural field the previous night, the report said, adding that the animal was being chased out of the village, but could not get into forest, over the fence.

An IFS Officer Praveen Kaswan has tweeted and asked the reasons where we are helping these wild animals with making such barricades or is it an attempt to create hurdles for the wild animals. The railway fence is first-of-its-kind in Nagarhole wildlife reserve was built in an attempt to check man-animal conflict, in villages bordering the forests in 2015.

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Big cats changing old routes to avoid human contact

NAINITAL: A new study has found that tigers, leopards and elephants may be changing their traditional corridors within forests to avoid man-animal conflict.
The study by the state forest department funded by the Union ministry of environment and forests found primary evidence that animals may have taken to two new probable passages/corridors near the Corbett tiger reserve (CTR). GS Karki, additional conservator of forests, told TOI, “We have launched the study in 12 corridors in and around CTR. The study is on and there are a few findings in the primary stage, but conclusions can be drawn only after the study is complete.” The study is being conducted in corridors passing through or connecting parts of forest in five forest divisions of western circle of Kumaon, Corbett tiger reserve, Nandhaur wildlife sanctuary and Pilibhit tiger reserve.
The study is aimed at exploring the factors, including human interference in habitat of wild animals as well as various other factors affecting the movement of animals through their natural pathways which happen to be corridors. Parag Madhukar Dhakate, chief executive officer of Haldwani zoo who is heading the study, said, “The study will take at least 12 months to reach to any conclusion. We have found two passages which may or may not be full-fledged corridors yet. We will be tracking the movement of the animals in these passages and other corridors too. Other factors will include closely observing the interference of humans and related activity near these corridors through which we will be able to determine the effects.”
Vipul Maurya, biologist from Wildlife Institute of India, said, “Elephant herds are known to migrate across 350-500 sq km annually. But fragmented landscapes are driving them more frequently into human-dominated areas, giving rise to more man-animal conflicts which also forces the animals to find new routes.”

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Wildlife board says ‘yes’ to Kanhargaon sanctuary

Nagpur: The Maharashtra State Board for Wildlife (MSBW) on Wednesday in-principle approved to declare Kanhargaon in Gondpipri tehsil of Chandrapur district a wildlife sanctuary.
The decision was taken at the 14th board meeting chaired by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. Forest minister Sudhir Mungantiwar, top officials and members were also present.

The issue, which was not on the agenda, was raised by members Anish Andheria of Wildlife Conservation Trust (WCT) and Satpuda Foundation’s Kishor Rithe during a presentation by WII’s Bilal Habib on man-animal conflict and mitigation measures in the backdrop of killing of tigress T1.

Fadnavis called for separate policy to curb man-animal conflict and asked to constitute a committee for the same. He also said to boost ecotourism in six tiger reserves, a fresh proposal should be worked out and a proposal be sent to NTCA to continue ecotourism even during monsoon. He called for separate elephant squads in tiger reserves to control conflict around the reserves.

Declaring Kanhargaon a sanctuary is a four-year-old proposal that was hanging fire owing to political differences and opposition from FDCM, which has large-scale logging operations here.

However, the move seems to have been taken considering the flared-up man-animal conflict with tigers crying for space. As per the survey conducted by WCT in 2015, there are 10 tigers and 23 leopards in Kanhargaon.

“The lush green forest of Kanhargaon forms key southern corridor for spill over tiger population moving to Kawal tiger reserve in Telangana and Indravati reserve in Chhattisgarh through Chaprala and Pranhita in Gadchiroli,” says Uday Patel, honorary wildlife warden of Gadchiroli.

Talking to TOI, PCCF (wildlife) AK Misra, who is also member-secretary of the board, said, “The 210sqkm sanctuary proposal will need technical formalities to be completed before a final notification is to be issued. The board also decided to expand Umred-Karhandla Wildlife Sanctuary and Bor Tiger Reserve by relocating three villages each from these PAs. These villages themselves are keen on getting shifted.”

Earlier proposal for Kanhargaon was for over 400 sqkm. It was curtailed to 265 sqkm following opposition and now it has been brought down to 210sqkm keeping all villages, except Kanhargaon, out.

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Karnataka zoos to host project on animal population management

Zoos in Karnataka, particularly the Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens in Mysuru and the Bannerghatta Biological Park (BBP) in Bengaluru, will be among of the study areas of the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehardun, Union Ministry of Environment and Forests, which is carrying out a project on population management of species involved in man-animal conflict in the country.

The pilot project is being carried out under the Centrally-sponsored scheme of Integrated Development Wildlife Habitats (CSS-IDWH). The ₹10.65-crore project has been spread over three years.

According to the WII, the project aims to assess the current status of man-animal conflict with the aim of reducing its impact.

The project has been divided into two phases. Phase 1 will deal with developing the appropriate tools of population control and developing a protocol for field implementation. Phase 2 will deal with in-house production of drugs and large-scale implementation at the field level by the Forest Department.

Under this project, four herbivore species — rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta), nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus), wild boar (Sus scrofa), and elephant (Elephant maximus) — have been identified as the focal species, according to information sourced from the Ministry of Environment and Forests, wildlife division.

The project aims to develop appropriate reproductive control techniques for managing the population of “problem species” below the tolerance level, and to understand the ecological aspects of conflict management.

The proposed study will information on the efficacy and feasibility of reproductive control by various procedures. It will also quantify damage by animals in select areas and assess the perception of locals towards resolving human-animal conflict, a note from the ministry, a copy of which is available with The Hindu, said.

The findings of the study will eventually help in implementing effective management practices that will reduce the intensity of the problem.

The study may serve as a “standard model” to be replicated across different geographic regions for mitigating man-animal conflict. Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) C. Jayaram said the project has been taken up on a pilot basis and would be implemented in selected populations where the problem has been noticed if the initiative proves successful.

Birth control

“The project deals with contraception for temporary birth control in the species. The vaccine is injected into female species, which eventually stops conceiving for a temporary period. Such a programme was carried out at Kruger National Park in South Africa for controlling the population of elephants,” Mr. Jayaram said.

He said the population of bonnet macaque has increased both in rural and urban areas in the south, like that of the rhesus macaque in north India. “The female bonnet monkeys will be the focal study species in the State,” he said.

Zoo Authority of Karnataka member-secretary B.P. Ravi said the WII has sought permission for carrying out trial studies on nilgais and elephants in the zoos.

CM’s directive to officials

The Forest Department has been directed to prepare a plan to find a permanent solution to the man-animal conflict in the State, especially with Karnataka having the highest density of elephants in the country.

The direction came from Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy at a meeting of officials of Hassan, Chickmagaluru, and Kodagu to discuss man-elephant conflicts in these districts. He directed the officials to submit a plan considering the needs of the next four or five years, a release from the CMO said.

While a total of 71 km has been fenced using rail line fencing, there is a need to construct 400-500 km more of rail fence. The CM also asked officials to seek rail lines at a discounted rate from the Railways.

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India’s elephants are in mortal danger, and this photographer is trying to fix that…

On a winter morning in 2013, a herd of 45 elephants was trudging across the forests near Bishnupur, West Bengal. About 10 of them went ahead to check if the tracks at the Bisra Munda Halt Station were clear and summoned the rest of the herd. Nearly each one of them managed to cross, except a calf who struggled to alight the platform that had come up right in the middle of their migratory path. It was five agonising minutes before the calf finally mustered the courage to get off the ramp and cross the live railway track. Biplab Hazra caught this agonising moment on camera.

A mother and her calf cross the tracks at the Birsa Munda Halt station in West Bengal’s Bankura district. Photo: Biplab Hazra

After the photograph earned him a certificate of merit at the Sanctuary Wildlife Photography awards this year, it went viral on social media. Hazra, a self-trained photographer, told us more about this death trap. “It’s very sad. The platform is built in the middle of the forest. Till date, I have not seen a single person get on or off at the station. In fact, the electric wires, switches and fans have been stolen by the villagers. The ticket counter is the only thing that remains.”

The 40-year-old businessman took to photography when he started strolling the jungle with his photojournalist friend. What started off as a hobby went on to become a social justice project. “If the station was built 100m away, the elephant corridor would not have been affected,” he adds. He complained to the railway authorities but nothing changed. “I’m a small man. I feel helpless,” he says.

Track deaths are a major contributor to elephant fatalities in India. In 2018 so far, 26 elephants have died after being knocked down by trains. Over the past five years, around 100 elephants have died in this manner, according to the Wildlife Protection Society of India.

Hazra’s photograph captures this man-animal conflict. And he may have had limited success with the Railways, but his work has changed the ground reality in at least one instance. In 2016, Hazra came upon a bunch of villagers, near Bishnupur again, using fireballs and torches to scare elephants away from their village. This violent act was sanctioned by the forest department itself. During this raid, the fire scorched a mother elephant and her calf as they tried to flee the mob.

Hazra captured this horrific moment, which quickly spread across the Internet. It triggered a massive outrage, following which the Supreme Court banned the use of fireballs and torches to keep elephants away, terming the act “barbaric”.

Today, Hazra continues to use his camera to protect elephants, one photograph at a time.

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Forest minister calls for united efforts to conserve elephants

TURA: Minister of Forest and Environment Lahkmen Rymbui on Thursday urged people to join hands for the conservation of elephants and other endangered species.
Rymbui was speaking at the closing ceremony of the four-day Gaj Yatra campaign here at Baghmara Government College Hall in South Garo Hills.
Highlighting the plight of elephants in the state and their habitat, which is rapidly diminishing, the minister urged the people to respect elephant corridors and give the animals space so as to avoid man-animal conflict.
Rongara Siju MLA Rakkam A Sangma, while highlighting the importance of preservation of forest and natural habitat, said Hoolock Gibbons are facing habitat loss due to rampant destruction of forest reserve. He urged the people to encourage free movement of wildlife and continue their protection and preservation.
Earlier, the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) official, P Panda, in her introductory address informed the gathering about Gaj Yatra which means Elephants’ Journey and said altogether 12 states with substantial elephant population have been selected with an aim to create awareness about elephant corridors and encourage their free movement in their habitat.
Local MDC Sengnal N Sangma, Chief Conservator of Forests, P R Marak, Director of Balpakram National Park Division, S N Sangma and Joint Director of WTI, Sunil Kyarong were some of the others who spoke during the function.
A pledge to support the cause for protection and preservation of elephants and other wildlife species was also taken during the programme.


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Man killed by elephant in Odisha, India

In another incident of man-animal conflict in Odisha, a daily wage laborer was killed in elephant attack at Gengutia under Sadar police limits in Dhenkanal district on Saturday.

The deceased identified as Sushant Behera of Gengutia village was on his way to Dhenkanal town along with two other co-workers, when a pachyderm attacked the trio near the level crossing.

While the two labourers managed to escape from the spot, Sushant was trampled to death by the wild elephant, sources said.

"Since last five years, the land here is not being used for agricultural purpose as elephants are destroying standing crops. We had earlier requested the forest department to at least alarm us when elephants are straying near the human settlements. But they do not even bother if we inform them about the movement of jumbos in the area," alleged Ranjan Mallick, a local resident.

Sources said a herd of elephants was spotted near the area earlier this week.

"I had no information about the movement of elephant herd in the area. But as the locals are alleging about the presence of the elephants, so squads will deployed here soon," said Dhenkanal Range officer, Darshan Bhoi refuting the allegations of dereliction of duties by forest officials.

A sum of Rs 40,000 will be given to the family of the deceased now and the remaining assistance of Rs 3,60,000 will be provided after the victim's family submits necessary documents, he added.


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Bareilly Herd of 40 elephants seen heading out of Amangarh forest as water holes go dry

BIJNOR: Man-animal conflict looms in Bijnor as water holes in Amangarh have gone dry. Forest officials said that due to scorching heat, water levels in the holes here have gone down and that efforts are being made to maintain the water level by means of motor pumps.Divisional forest officer M Semmaran said, "Water level in water holes has declined. Out of the 12 water holes here, six have gone dry due to which tigers and elephants have started moving towards human inhabited areas. I have seen around 40 elephants on Thursday inside this dam where they were in the water. Nearly 40 elephants have been spotted near Peeli Dam after they moved out of forests in Amangarh range.


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Man killed by elephant in Odisha, India

In another incident of man-animal conflict in Odisha, a daily wage labourer was killed in elephant attack at Gengutia under Sadar police limits in Dhenkanal district on Saturday.

The deceased identified as Sushant Behera of Gengutia village was on his way to Dhenkanal town along with two other co-workers, when a pachyderm attacked the trio near the level crossing.

While the two labourers managed to escape from the spot, Sushant was trampled to death by the wild elephant, sources said.

"Since last five years, the land here is not being used for agricultural purpose as elephants are destroying standing crops. We had earlier requested the forest department to at least alarm us when elephants are straying near the human settlements. But they do not even bother if we inform them about the movement of jumbos in the area," alleged Ranjan Mallick, a local resident.

Sources said a herd of elephants was spotted near the area earlier this week.

"I had no information about the movement of elephant herd in the area. But as the locals are alleging about the presence of the elephants, so squads will deployed here soon," said Dhenkanal Range officer, Darshan Bhoi refuting the allegations of dereliction of duties by forest officials.

A sum of Rs 40,000 will be given to the family of the deceased now and the remaining assistance of Rs 3,60,000 will be provided after the victim's family submits necessary documents, he added.


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GajYatra rolls out in Meghalaya

Guwahati : India’s biggest campaign for elephants, the Gaj Yatra is going to be travelling through the Garo Hills landscape of the north-eastern state of Meghalaya over the next four days, touching five identified elephant corridors.

“Elephants symbolise the availability of natural habitat, which portrays the provision of forest cover and food,and sends a strong message that our ecosystem can still support both human and animal population in the State. Depletion of elephant population would therefore mean degradation of their habitat, which in turn, would bring about man-animal conflict. So, this Gaj Yatra aims to spread the message that the elephant as a flagship species is the best indicator of the health of the ecosystem of the State.” Addressing the assembled dignitaries, WTI’s Executive Director & CEO, Mr Vivek Menon said: “We are delighted to flag off the Gaj Yatra from Tura. Meghalaya has set a precedent in securing Right OfPassage for elephants with its unique model of community declared village reserve forests – a model that can and should be emulated in other parts of our country. The Nokmas, State Government and the GHADChave a key role in securing these elephant corridors and our success shows what is possible with political will and public support.” Speaking on the occasion,Shri James PK Sangma, Hon’ble Minister for Home, lauded the organisers for this noble initiative and expressed that he had gained more information about the objectives of the Gaj Yatra and the importance of the protection of the National Heritage Animal. Terming the conservation mission to protect the elephants as crucial, he reiterated that school children are the most important stakeholders for preserving our environment and maintaining the ecosystem of the region.


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Karnataka poll issue: Checkpost staff battle jumbo attacks

MYSURU: There is no escaping man-animal conflict in Malnad area. Plagued by increasing incidents of leopard attacks, residents of HD Kote have, in fact, made it a poll issue.
Hundreds of officers and police personnel deputed for election duty deep in the forests of Mysuru and other Malnad districts get through each day under the shadow of animal attacks. The rain has only added to their misery.

In Anechoukar, an election checkpost has been set up at the Mysuru-Kodagu border. The checkpost is around 2 km from the Titimathi elephant camp. Not a day has gone by that the staff on duty at this checkpost have not been visited by elephants during the day and at night.

Two days ago, a local resident said a herd of elephants destroyed the toilet built for the checkpost personnel. This toilet was located just a few meters from the checkpost.

The checkpost staff light a fire to keep the animals away. “They keep the fire burning through the night,” said a villager.

“Most of us are not trained in handling attacks by wild animals. In many places snakes are the big problem as they are attracted by lights,” said a duty staff who was reluctant to be identified. “Wild boars and leopards are frequent visitors at checkposts,” he added.

But the problems is not just wild animals. Rain has also been playing havoc. The checkposts have collapsed in the rain. When contacted SP Amit Singh stated that he is not aware of the threat from wild animals. He said waterproof tents will be built at the earliest.

“In many areas, checkposts are in animal corridors. They should have borne this in mind,” said a forest officer.


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Assam: Woman trampled to death by elephants in Goalpara

GUWAHATI, April 30, 2018: In a conflict between man-animal, one 55-year-old woman was killed by an elephant.

The decease identified as Nikubala Rabha hailing from Makri village under Balijana development block of Goalpara district was killed by an elephant that entered her house on Saturday from the neighboring Pancharatna hills.

Source said Nikubala was at a loss finding the jumbo inside the house and before she could escape, it seized her with its trunk and thrashed her on the ground. The elephant also damaged her house and devoured the stored paddy.

The residents claimed that Nikubala was the elephant’s ninth victim. Goalpara forest ranger Ayaz Uddin said a team was deployed near the village but the jumbo took advantage of darkness and bad weather to attack the house.

The forest department later recovered Nikubala’s body and sent it for post-mortem.

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Elephant kills cyclist in Dooars of Bengal, Leopard evacuated safely

In a fresh man-animal conflict a tusker today trampled to death a man while he was cycling on the highway to hisworking place in the Dooars of West Bengal's Jalpaiguri district, forestranger Dulal Ghosh said.

The killing of man by the adult elephant happened in broad day light around Targhera jungle checkpost.

Eyewitnesses said the pachyderm came out of the forest on the state highway and picked up the panicked cyclist, who stopped paddling before the jumbo, from its trunk and hurled on metal road and stumped on the body. The deceased, identified as Priyanath Biswas (40), a carpenter by profession.

The body was sent for postmortem. The ranger said the bereaved family would be compensated accordingly. Elsewhere, a live leopard was today got into a trap inside the Simulbari tea estate. The leopard was also evacuated safely into a jungle.

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