(IN): Pachyderms wreak havoc in Jorhat

[Guest guest]

Link: http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/details.asp?id=nov2307/at08

 

Pachyderms wreak havoc in Jorhat

From A Correspondent

JORHAT, Nov 22 – The riverine areas of the district have been reeling under

the impact of the depredations caused by a huge herd of wild elephants since

the last fortnight. Villagers in Neamati, Meleng and Jhanjimukh areas along

Brahmaputra river in northern Jorhat have been perturbed by the presence of

the herd which has been devouring standing crops at random. The marauding

jumbos are believed to have crossed over Brahmaputra from Majuli subdivision

in search of food reserves.

 

All efforts to chase the elephants away from the human-inhabited areas by

Forest personnel here have proved abortive so far. The presence of a number

of calves has made the task of driving away the herd a lot more difficult.

The Jorhat Forest Division has lit up a three-kilometre stretch of Bor Ali

dyke running along Brahmaputra with generator-backed lights to keep the

tuskers at bay at night.

 

However, this, too, has proved to be counter-productive. As there are

villages scattered all over the place, the elephants have to be made to

retreat through the northern side facing Brahmaputra alone, Forest Division

sources pointed out. This is not easy as the elephants are reluctant to

cross over the river channel, they added.

 

Meanwhile, the panicky villagers have been trying to ward off the wild

elephants by lighting fires, setting off crackers and beating drums. The din

has further confused the jumbos which have obviously lost direction and are

unwilling to go away due to availability of food reserves, the sources

stressed. The herd is now scattered in small groups.

 

It may be mentioned here that a section of aggrieved villagers had even

petitioned the district administration for relief from the jumbo menace.

 

The Forest Division sources stressed that the man-elephant conflict in the

 

district has been more pronounced since 1999 with the appearance of a huge

herd comprising 100-odd elephants in the chaporis (sandbanks) of Majuli.

 

Due to the absence of any permanent habitat along Brahmaputra, these

'seasonal' elephants, which strike twice a year, have been wreaking havoc on

the river island, causing extensive damage to ahu and sali crops.

 

The resident elephants of the district, numbering 43, are found in Gibbon

Wildlife Sanctuary and the three forest reserves – Dissoi, Dissoi Valley and

Tiru Hills – in the south. According to official sources, the total elephant

habitat under Jorhat Forest Division measures 7,100 hectares.

 

Forest officials have mooted a study of the migration route of the 'stray'

elephants in Majuli to facilitate their retreat to the original habitat.

 

--

Fight captive Jumbo abuse, end Elephant Polo

http://www.stopelephantpolo.com