Wildlife groups furious over Assam Elephant Killing

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Please find the PRESS RELEASE below which was signed by various

leading wildlife NGOs of this region today. Also the elephant that

was finally killed in a barbaric manner was not the Rogue ( Laden )

and instead a harmless injured and lame elephant. What a blunder !

 

Azam Siddiqui

--

 

PROTEST AGAINST ELEPHANT KILLING

 

We along with all our members and supporters jointly denounce the

action of the state government in proclamation and eventual

execution of an elephant on December 16, 2006 at Behali TE. This

action can at best be described as a knee jerk reaction to the

escalating human-elephant conflict in the state. It skirts the real

issue of loss and degradation of forest and human encroachments in

wild areas.

 

We denounce the execution of the elephant for the following reasons:

 

1. We feel that there is a lack of substantial logic behind the

proclamation of the elephant as a `rogue'. Opinion of public as well

as various stakeholders and experts working in the field of human

elephant conflict could have been sought before taking the hasty

decision. The Wildlife Protection Act clearly states that " no wild

animal shall be killed unless all possible options of capturing,

translocating, and tranquilizing are exhausted " (Section11 (b)). We

feel that this guideline has not been followed in this case.

2. We denounce frequent proclamation of elephants as `rouges'

without ascertaining facts properly. While an elephant was

declared `rouge' on July 3. 2006 another was condemned on November

19, 2006.

3. While the crucial issues of encroachment and destruction of

forests and poaching and killing of wild animals are not given

adequate attention by the authorities, the government seems to be

too eager to proclaim homeless and displaced elephants as `rogues'.

This gives rise to the doubt that these decisions are based on

vested interests rather than conservation and scientific

considerations.

4. We understand Mr. Dipen Ram Phukan was assigned/ appointed by

the state govt. for execution of the `rouge' elephant. In what

capacity did his son fire six bullets to kill the elephant, as

reported by the media? Did the government specifically authorize him

to do so? The media report also suggests that he is neither a

licensee nor a retainer of the weapon used for the purpose?

(Assamiya Khabor, December 18, 2006; page 1). Is this not a

violation under Arms Act? Government should publish a white paper on

the issue clarifying who all fired at the 'rogue' elephant on

December 16.

 

 

 

Considering the above facts, we would like to appeal to the Chief

Minister of Assam to take bold steps for conservation of elephants

and mitigation of human elephant conflict in Assam by initiating

phase-wise eviction of encroachers from the key elephant dominated

Reserve Forests in Assam. Providing required and restored forest

space for elephants only can give respite to the people from

depredation by wild elephants. The honorable Chief Minister is also

requested to direct the Forest Department not to proclaim any wild

elephant a `rogue' in Assam without clearing the forest lands from

encroachers. If any elephant is proclaimed a `rogue' without

clearing encroachment from the forest lands, such proclamation order

shall be challenged in court to bring justice to the harassed and

vulnerable wild elephants to let them live with dignity.

 

It is also unfortunate that the executed elephant was named after

one of the most notorious terrorists of the world, as if to justify

its killing.

 

Let us join hands to save the elephants with humanity rather than

eliminating them one by one through government proclamations and

slander.

 

Yours truly,

 

1. WWF-India

2. Nature`s Bonyapran

3. Dolphin Foundation

4. Nature`s Beckon

5. Aaranyak

 

 

The above mentioned NGOs were present and signed the joint press

release and interacted with the press and media at the press

conference held at the Press Club premises in Guwahati city, Assam,

India at 11.am, 20th December` 2006.

 

For more details please contact Aaranyak at :

 

Bibhab Kumar Talukdar. Ph.D.

 

Secretary General, Aaranyak

 

50 Samanwoy Path (Survey)

 

PO: Beltola, Guwahati - 781 028

 

Assam, India

 

Tel: +91-361-2228418/2230250 (Off)

 

Res: +91-361-2266087

 

Fax: +91-361-2228418

 

Mobile: +91-94351 13139

 

www.aaranyak.org