Border fighting over elephants & tigers

[Guest guest]

From ANIMAL PEOPLE, July/August 2009:

 

 

Border fighting over elephants & tigers

 

KATHMANDU, Nepal; Jalpaiguri, India--For the second time

in two years elephant incursions across the Nepalese/Indian border

have inflamed tensions in Jhapa, a Nepalese district north of West

Bengal.

" With the Brahmaputra plains in India's Assam state flooded

by the monsoons, the elephants began migrating, " said the

Indo-Asian News Service. Nepalese police wounded six elephants who

forded the Mechi river to enter Nepal circa June 11, 2009, and

allegedly also shot at Indian forest guards who followed the

elephants into Nepal and tried to stop the shooting.

The Nagarik Vernacular Daily of Nepal on June 18, 2009

agravated the situation when it amplified an unsubstantiated

allegation by politician Padma Lal Biswokarna that India plans to

evict 6,000 Nepalese villages in order to raise 200 to 400

" man-eating tigers " on their land.

Two elephants were killed by police in the vicinity in

mid-July 2009. As many as 200 elephants reportedly retaliated by

wrecking the homes and crops that the shooting was meant to protect.

" In the past, at least 24 people have been killed in Baundangi

village alone by migrating herds, " said IANS.

 

 

 

--

Merritt Clifton

Editor, ANIMAL PEOPLE

P.O. Box 960

Clinton, WA 98236

 

Telephone: 360-579-2505

Fax: 360-579-2575

E-mail: anmlpepl

Web: www.animalpeoplenews.org

 

[ANIMAL PEOPLE is the leading independent newspaper providing

original investigative coverage of animal protection worldwide,

founded in 1992. Our readership of 30,000-plus includes the

decision-makers at more than 10,000 animal protection organizations.

We have no alignment or affiliation with any other entity. $24/year;

for free sample, send address.]