(IN): Jumbos becoming victims of conflict with humans

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*http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/details.asp?id=jul0909/State1

 

Jumbos becoming victims of conflict with humans**

*CORRESPONDENT

KALAIGAON, July 8 – Man elephant conflict has taken a serious turn in

Udalguri district. The recent discovery of a decomposed body of a two year

old elephant in Barangajuli TE on July 3 has created sensation in the

district as the matter has raised several questions relating to the safe

movement of the wild elephants.

 

On receiving information from garden authority of Barangajuli TE, a team of

civil and forest officials headed by DN Hazarika, circle officer Harisinga

Revenue Circle (Tangla) and accompanied by members of Green Valley Forest

and Wildlife Protection Society, arrived at the site on July 4. According to

the circle officer, the dead body of the wild elephant was decomposed badly

and post-mortem could not be performed. But according to the version of the

members of the NGO and forest officials, it was ascertained that the

Manipuri type (small in size) 2 year old elephant had died one week earlier

due to poisoning.

 

In another incident, a thirty year old elephant was spotted at section 26 of

Orangajuli TE near Indo-Bhutan international border in the month of July

2009. The elephant could not walk and looked injured. It was moving in the

forests near the tea garden accompanied by a herd of wild elephants

numbering 25 to thirty. Nature loving Ananta Bagh, CEO of Nonoi based NGO (

Green Valley Forest and Wildlife Protection Society ) and others approached

D.N. Hazarika, circle officer of Harisinga Revenue circle (Tangla ) for the

proper treatment of the animal. The circle officer on receiving the

information ,immediately informed DFO Udalguri for necessary action. He

personally visited the elephant several times along with members of the

local NGO and forest officials. The victim had nearly stopped eating.

Finding no way to save it, other members of the herd finally abandoned the

unfortunate elephant on the night of July 4 at sector 15 of Nonoipar TE,

just 3 km away from the previous place. After public pressure, DFO Udalguri

started taking action on July 4, and accordingly a team of surgeons from

State Veterinary College, Khanapara, headed by assistant professor Dr Bijay

Dutta along with DFO Udalguri arrived at the site at Nonoipar to treat the

elephant. The elephant was tranquilized before administering several doses

of antibiotics and pain killers. According to Dr Dutta the elephant bore

deep spear injury on its front leg causing great pain. He also said that

medicines for a period of one week had been administered on the spot but

careful observation was needed for further treatment. According to him the

animal was out of danger.

 

Both these two incidents have raised several questions relating the safe

movement of wild elephants. The unabated destruction of forests and

encroachment of forests lands by people have compelled wild elephants to

roam in the localities of Udalguri district. Ananta Bagh, CEO of Green

Valley Forest and Wild Life Protection Society (a Nonoi based NGO with more

than 100 members for the conservation of floras and faunas of Assam) has

been much concerned about the safe passage of wild elephants in the areas.

He said with regret that neither the tea garden management nor the high

forest officials had ever been cooperative to them in the matter of

conservation of animals and birds. He strongly opposed the erection of high

voltage electric fencing in the tea gardens by the managements causing death

of so many wild animals.

 

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