(IN): Squeezed, jumbos kill

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Link: http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080521/jsp/siliguri/story_9297935.jsp

 

 

*Squeezed, jumbos kill*

* - Shrinking forest cover blamed as Bengal tops list of human deaths in

elephant attacks*

AVIJIT SINHA

 

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*Siliguri, May 20: *Elephants have killed more humans in Bengal over the

past 16 years than any other state in the country and environmentalists say

the blame should be put on the steady encroachment of forests.

 

According to data available with authorities of Project Elephant, a

conservation body formed under the Union ministry of forests and

environment, 982 people have died in elephant attacks in Bengal between

1991-92 and 2006-07. Bengal thus tops the list *(see chart)*, followed by

Jharkhand (779) and Assam (717).

 

The figures take into account attacks by both wild and trained elephants.

 

Project Elephant was launched in February 1992. No data is available for the

years preceding the formation of the body.

 

Environmentalists said the figures confirmed their fears.

 

" We have been crying ourselves hoarse about how depletion of forest cover is

squeezing elephant corridors across the state, particularly in north

Bengal, " Animesh Bose, an environmentalist associated with the

Siliguri-based Himalayan Nature and Adventure Foundation, said.

" Man-elephant conflict has become a regular feature now, with both groups

living in vulnerable conditions. We need to take up a prolonged awareness

drive and the forest department must discourage growth of human colonies in

forest areas. "

 

According to Bose, the absence of fodder in forests, replacement of foliage

by paddy fields and hutment and people attacking elephants with pellets and

arrows are the key factors that make the pachyderm attack villages, leading

to loss of lives and property.

 

The Project Elephant figures indicate that in 19 states across the country,

4,092 people have died in elephant attacks in the past 16 years.

 

Foresters, who have been working to increase the forest cover and keep the

elephant corridors in north and south Bengal intact, acknowledged the

problem.

 

" The man-animal conflict is an issue that we encounter on a regular basis, "

state forest minister Ananta Roy said. " We are in the process of increasing

forest cover by planting trees in areas surrounding forests. Trees that

produce fodder for elephants are also regularly planted in forests. "

 

The 2007 census report published by Project Elephant shows that there are

300-350 pachyderms in north Bengal and 25 in south Bengal.

 

" The elephant population in Bengal is much lower than the ones in states

like Tamil Nadu, Assam and Jharkhand and yet, the number of deaths from

elephant attacks is the highest here, " said a Calcutta-based

environmentalist on condition of anonymity. " Unless the growth of human

habitats in forests is stopped, such deaths would continue to occur. "

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