Guest guest Posted September 22, 2006 Report Share Posted September 22, 2006 http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2006/09/20/asia/AS_GEN_India_Elephant_Wars.php Humans, elephants battle for supremacy in India's remote northeast **The Associated Press Published: September 20, 2006 *GAUHATI, India* A desperate battle between elephants and humans for the forests of India's remote northeast has reached alarming proportions, resulting in hundreds killed on both sides, wildlife officials said Wednesday ahead of an emergency meeting. Of particular concern is an increase in people killing wild Asiatic elephants in revenge attacks, said M.C. Malakar, the chief wildlife warden in Assam state, which has India's largest concentration of wild Asiatic elephants, estimated at 5,000. " Wild elephants have killed 239 people in Assam since 2001, while 265 elephants have died during the period, many of them victims of retaliation by agitated humans, " Malakar told The Associated Press. An emergency meeting of local community leaders, conservationists and officials on elephant management is set for Sept. 25 at Kaziranga, a wildlife sanctuary in eastern Assam. " The main reason for this conflict is the depletion of the elephant habitats due to deforestation and encroachment on forested areas by illegal settlers, " Malakar said. The settlers have cut down huge tracts of forest in the state, even encroaching on national parks, he said. They inhabit as much as 18,000 hectares (44,480 acres) spread over 10 national parks and game sanctuaries. Satellite imagery shows that between 1996 and 2000 some 280,000 hectares (691,880 acres) of thick forests in Assam were cleared by humans. The loss of habitat has forced elephants into villages in search of food — raiding crops, knocking down houses and killing people. In retaliation, angry villagers have killed the elephants by electrocution, shooting them with poison-tipped arrows or spiking food with poisons. In one instance, 19 elephants were poisoned in Sonitpur district, 180 kilometers (110 miles) north of Gauhati, the state capital, after they feasted on crops and brought houses down. Elephant killings are " especially troubling as rural communities have traditionally coexisted with elephants, tolerating minor levels of crop raiding, " said A. Choudhury, a wildlife expert. Crop raiding by elephant herds is most intense between September and February, the local rice-growing season, but incidents are increasing as habitat loss becomes increasingly severe, he said. However, one new project by the World Wildlife Fund has shown promise in its ability to keep wild elephants away from villages, Malakar said. The program uses trained elephants and riders to herd wild elephants away from populated areas. This year, 17 people have been killed by rampaging elephant herds, while 18 elephants have been killed by people, said Malakar. ** *GAUHATI, India* A desperate battle between elephants and humans for the forests of India's remote northeast has reached alarming proportions, resulting in hundreds killed on both sides, wildlife officials said Wednesday ahead of an emergency meeting. Of particular concern is an increase in people killing wild Asiatic elephants in revenge attacks, said M.C. Malakar, the chief wildlife warden in Assam state, which has India's largest concentration of wild Asiatic elephants, estimated at 5,000. " Wild elephants have killed 239 people in Assam since 2001, while 265 elephants have died during the period, many of them victims of retaliation by agitated humans, " Malakar told The Associated Press. An emergency meeting of local community leaders, conservationists and officials on elephant management is set for Sept. 25 at Kaziranga, a wildlife sanctuary in eastern Assam. " The main reason for this conflict is the depletion of the elephant habitats due to deforestation and encroachment on forested areas by illegal settlers, " Malakar said. The settlers have cut down huge tracts of forest in the state, even encroaching on national parks, he said. They inhabit as much as 18,000 hectares (44,480 acres) spread over 10 national parks and game sanctuaries. Satellite imagery shows that between 1996 and 2000 some 280,000 hectares (691,880 acres) of thick forests in Assam were cleared by humans. The loss of habitat has forced elephants into villages in search of food — raiding crops, knocking down houses and killing people. In retaliation, angry villagers have killed the elephants by electrocution, shooting them with poison-tipped arrows or spiking food with poisons. In one instance, 19 elephants were poisoned in Sonitpur district, 180 kilometers (110 miles) north of Gauhati, the state capital, after they feasted on crops and brought houses down. Elephant killings are " especially troubling as rural communities have traditionally coexisted with elephants, tolerating minor levels of crop raiding, " said A. Choudhury, a wildlife expert. Crop raiding by elephant herds is most intense between September and February, the local rice-growing season, but incidents are increasing as habitat loss becomes increasingly severe, he said. However, one new project by the World Wildlife Fund has shown promise in its ability to keep wild elephants away from villages, Malakar said. The program uses trained elephants and riders to herd wild elephants away from populated areas. This year, 17 people have been killed by rampaging elephant herds, while 18 elephants have been killed by people, said Malakar. ** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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