(IN): Man-animal conflict

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<http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/details.asp?id=jul2709/edit>EDITORIAL

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*MESSAGE FOR TODAY:*

*The evolution of the human race will not be accomplished in the ten

thousand years of tame animals because man is and will always be a wild

animal.

— C G DARWIN*

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*Man-animal conflict*

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*The unabated man-elephant conflict has been among the gravest conservation

challenges confronting the State. Over the past one decade the conflict has

taken a heavy toll on both man and animal, with hardly any sign that the

problem would ease in the coming days. The developments bode ill for the

State’s elephant population which is witnessing a diminishing trend. At the

root of the conflict lies rampant destruction of forests going on under the

very nose of the Forest Department and the State Government. Widespread

tree-felling and encroachment have caused destruction, degradation and

fragmentation of forests all over the State. Along with loss of habitat, the

remaining green cover is now bereft of any contiguity, resembling tiny

islands subjected to growing anthropogenic pressures on all sides. The

gentle giants became the worst sufferers of this situation, as they are

migratory animals requiring contiguous belts of forests for movement. Most

of the elephant corridors are now occupied by human settlements, invariably

triggering a clash during the movement of the pachyderms. It is indeed

regrettable that an animal loved and revered for its wisdom and gentleness

and which is very much a part of Assamese folklore and culture since ages

should have now become a despicable enemy of the people for no fault of it.

The intensifying man-elephant conflict negates all the tall claims of

conservation trumpeted by the State Government.

 

The man-animal conflict is no longer restricted to elephants. Leopards and

even tigers are increasingly coming into conflict with humans as an

inevitable fallout of forest destruction. This is height of insipidity and

insensitivity on the part of the Government which is unwilling to recognise

the grim reality of vanishing forests. The threat posed to wildlife apart,

the development has perilous implications for the environment as a whole.

Large-scale deforestation in the State has a lot to do with the growing

severity of the floods as also the emerging drought-like situations. The

State’s unique natural heritage in the form of forests and wildlife is being

pushed to the brink, thanks to its appalling management. This devastation

can be checked only when the Government accords top priority to protection

of forests. Restoration of the lost green cover to the extent possible is

another urgent need. Organised encroachment with political backing has wiped

out vast expanses of forests. We need a sustained campaign involving the

Government, NGOs, and the public to stem the rot taking place in our

forests. Most importantly, the Government needs to shed all political

considerations and exhibit a single-minded commitment to the cause.

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