(IN): Deaths mark wildlife week

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http://www.telegraphindia.com/1081113/jsp/siliguri/story_10104328.jsp

 

Deaths mark wildlife week

OUR CORRESPONDENT

 

*Siliguri, Nov. 12*: The state wildlife week this year turned out to be

" ominous " for the forest department as five animals died in north Bengal in

the past seven days.

 

The deaths of three elephants, a leopard cat and a barking deer came as a

blow to the department that was busy imparting awareness on wildlife

protection and conservation under the leadership of Bengal forest minister

Ananta Roy.

 

A human fatality was also reported during the week. A girl was trampled to

death by an elephant in Rajganj block of Jalpaiguri on November 9.

 

The last animal to die was a barking deer, which reached Mallaguri near the

Siliguri Tea Auction Centre yesterday. It had crossed the fringes of

Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary before suffering injuries in chest and leg.

 

" We rushed to the spot and brought it to the rescue centre in Sukna. Vets

were called in and they examined and treated it, " said Kanchan Banerjee, the

range officer of the wildlife squad in Sukna.

 

" When the deer came out of the forest and trudged through the tea estates to

reach Siliguri, it was chased by dogs and people, " he said.

 

The deer died last night and a post-mortem carried out on it suggested that

the animal had died of a heart blockage. The body was cremated at Sukna.

 

" It was unfortunate to witness five animal deaths in a span of seven days

when Wildlife Week was being celebrated, " said the forest minister.

 

" While the barking deer and the leopard cat died after they had apparently

met with accidents, different ailments seemed to have snuffed out the three

elephants. We have already started investigating why the elephants are

falling prey to diseases, " said Roy.

 

The deaths have prompted environmentalists of the region to raise the alarm.

 

 

" Over years, we have been insisting on growing plants which could be fodder

for herbivores. We also told authorities to increase the forest cover.

Consumption of fodder in villages and tea gardens, where pesticides and

fertilisers are often spread, might be the one reason of the animals being

struck with diseases, " said Sujit Das, the secretary of the Odlabari Nature

and Adventure Society.

 

He also said an investigation was needed to find out why wild elephant had

different ailments. Two jumbo calves died in the past four months after

being rescued.

 

S.B. Patel, the chief conservator of forests (wildlife), north Bengal, said

his department was trying to diagnose the causes of frequent animals deaths.

 

 

" We are also worried about the wild animals succumbing to accidents or

diseases. A two-fold strategy is being adopted to tackle the problem, " the

officer said.

 

" On one hand, we are conducting regular campaigns in fringe villages, making

people aware of the steps needed to avert the animal deaths. On the other,

we are carrying out investigations to diagnose the diseases the elephants

are affected with, " said Patel.

 

Animesh Bose, a Siliguri-based environmentalist, sought people's

participation in wildlife conservation.

 

" The forest department alone cannot curb such deaths. Instead, a concerted

effort with the involvement of people, wildlife NGOs and students is

necessary to preserve wildlife. This can be in various forms like wildlife

conservation, conducting surveys or studies on and holding camps in remote

areas, " he said.

 

 

 

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