Man-elephant conflict alarming in Assam, India

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Assam Tribune (www.assamtribune.com)

Guwahati, Thursday, October 20, 2005

 

Man-elephant conflict alarming in North Bank

 

From Prabal Kr Das

TEZPUR, Oct 19

Pressure is building up on human beings and

wildlife amid a landscape known for its unparalleled biodiversity. In

extensive tracts of fertile land close to Tezpur, a peculiar conflict

of interest is taking place, which if unresolved, would cause

irreparable harm to both people and animals.

 

For several years now, herds of wild elephants have entered

settlements, damaged houses and crops and even killed and injured

people. According to local residents, the problem is growing more

grave every year, and has not received the required attention from

the Government agencies concerned.

 

Herds of wild elephants - at times containing more than a hundred

adults and calves - come down from the Sonai Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary

and Nameri National Park situated not far from villages.

 

Significant degradation of forests, which are elephant habitat, in

and around the two protected areas has resulted in a situation where

wild elephants are compelled to move into adjoining areas, mostly

with human habitation.

 

In the last two months, four persons have already lost their lives

while crops spread over several hectares have been damaged as a

fallout of human-elephant conflict. The people, majority of them

farmers, have been forced to stay awake at nights, with youths

equipped only with high-powered lights keeping vigil beside their

houses and farms.

 

" Fortunes of a good number of families have altered overnight after

their crops were ravaged by elephants. Gradually, many among us have

stopped farming…a tough decision because there is no alternative

livelihood, " said Niranjan Deka of Kalita Gaon.

 

Deka and his fellow farmers are further aggrieved over not receiving

compensation for crop damage caused by elephants. They had paid money

for insuring their crops, but no financial help has been provided

till date.

 

In response to the prevailing circumstances, some people have formed

platforms to voice their concerns and demand appropriate Government

intervention. A group called the Bihaguri Anchalik Banariya Hati

Upadrap Surakhya Samity has submitted a memorandum to various

officials including the Deputy Commissioner of Sonitpur District.

 

Talking to this correspondent, Palash Hazarika of the Samity said the

people of the affected areas are dismayed that their precarious

condition has not been realized by local MLAs. " Our lifestyle has

changed for the worse. But still we have not seen the Government take

serious note of the situation. We are absolutely alone in our hour of

crisis. "

 

Wild elephants coming close to settlements face immense dangers, a

fact that is often overlooked in contrast to the human situation.

Five elephants ?four calves and a tusker ?have lost their lives

since September this year. " They are attacked, at times brutalized by

irate mobs…on other occasions, calves have died after falling into

man-made ditches, " said a village elder, who incidentally lost a

large part of his crops last year.

 

A senior official of the Forest Department, while acknowledging the

seriousness of the problem, said that shortage of funds and personnel

acted as a major constraint in driving out the elephants. Still, its

personnel, with support from WWF-India under the North Bank Landscape

Programme, are trying to push the wild elephants back to their

original habitat.

 

As part of the plan, trained elephants are used to drive away their

wild cousins from settlements and farms. This effort has met with

some success, but it is an intricate operation that requires a lot of

skill among its several stake holders ?Forest Department personnel,

administrators, and villagers who have suffered in silence till now.

 

Perhaps, it is now time to look at the root of the problem, which

lies within the Sonai Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary and Reserve Forests

close to Nameri National Park, noted a group of villagers. They feel

that unless the Government decides to remove encroachers from those

protected areas, the habitat of the elephants would continue to

degrade and the wild animals would continue to come out in search of

food.

 

" The problems created by encroachment in Sonai Rupai and the reserve

forests of Naduar, Balipara and Biswanath are very serious. While we

are concerned about the people dependent upon elephant habitats for

livelihood, restoration of the ecology of these areas should now

become top priority to resolve the problem. " said Hiten Kr. Baishya

of WWF-India under the North Bank Landscape Programme, are trying to

push the wild elephants back to their original habitat.

 

As part if the plan, trained elephants are used to drive away their

wild cousins from settlements and farms. This effort has met with

some success, but it is an intricate operation that requires a lot of

skill among its several stake holders.