A total of 115 elephants died in 2018-19, 99 in 2019-20 and 87 in 2020-21. The number of humans who died during the same period was 457, 585 and 359, respectively, Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav, said in a statement laid on the table of the House in reply to a question on 'human-elephant conflict' raised by MDMK MP Vaiko.
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) provides financial and technical assistance to states/UTs under the centrally sponsored scheme 'Project Elephant' for protection and conservation of elephants and their habitats in the country.
Various other centrally sponsored schemes being implemented by the MoEFCC contribute to the improvement in the natural habitat of elephants by augmenting water sources, planting of fodder trees, regeneration of bamboo etc.
Such schemes include Development of Wildlife Habitat and Project Tiger. The Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act 2016 and the Rules made there under also provide for use of the fund for the development of wildlife habitats, including for elephants, establishment of animal rescue centres, etc., which also contribute to reduction in human-elephant conflict, the Rajya Sabha was told.
The ministry had also issued a guideline for the management of human-elephant conflict on October 6, 2017, and the elephant range states were requested for the implementation of the same.
Critical elephant habitats are notified as 'Elephant Reserve' for focus and synergy in elephant conservation and to reduce conflict.
So far, 30 elephant reserves have been established in 14 major elephant states, the statement said.
The steps taken by the government of Tamil Nadu to address human-elephant conflict included the creation of various barriers such as elephant proof trench, solar fence, construction of walls, driving straying wild elephants into the forests, creation of water bodies, fodder resources, boundary perambulation etc.
The Tamil Nadu government also carries out periodic inspection of sagging and low laying electric lines and their maintenance and also withdraws free electricity to farmers booked under Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
Movement of stray elephants from core forest areas towards human settlements have posed a big threat to humans and also endangered the lives of the pachyderms.
From forests of Sundergarh’s Bonai and Panposh to Dunguripalli area of Kantabanji Range in Kalahandi, the entire state continues to witness the onslaught of the wild pachyderms. The condition has become so severe that several areas like Puri district’s Kanas block which rarely witnessed the presence of wild elephants are also experiencing such instances.
“This is for the first time that a dozen elephants crossed through our village triggering panic in our area,” said a resident of Bonai.
While farmers bear the brunt because of this situation, anti-socials and ones involved in wildlife poaching are taking undue benefits from the mess.
During the harvest period of paddy crops, movement of elephants towards human settlements has increased more than ever and poachers are quite happy to set up traps to exterminate these pachyderms for smuggling purposes.
From the brutal killing of an elephant by use of explosives at Rajanagar under Athagarh forest division a few days ago to death of an elephant near Nimakhandipentha area in Digapahandi forest division today clearly shows the gravity of the situation.
Sources said that around 65 elephants have died in last nine months. Statistics indicate that in last 8 years more than 600 elephants have died in the state due to several reasons like poaching, electrocution, accidents, sharp reduction of habitats while human interference have added to the fatalities.
While a total of 570 people lost their lives due to elephant attacks between 2011-12 and 2017-18, the rate of elephant death is equally disturbing. As many as 618 jumbos have died during the same period, a report by the Wildlife Society of India stated. Around 7984 houses were destroyed while 11,500 acres of standing crops witnessed destruction in the same period.
As per reports, the government has released a total compensation of Rs 11.67 crore to the people affected by elephant menace between 2011-12 and 2017-18.
On the other hand, ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh is also being given individually to the kin of those who are killed by elephants.
While wildlife conservationists have shown grave concern over the situation, the forest department is optimistic over minimising the tussle between humans and elephants.
Sasmita Lenka, the DFO of Athagarh Division has vouched for exemplary action against the poaching activity.
“Earlier they used to shoot but now poachers are employing more subtle methods to kill elephants so we have to take stringent action against them,” said Lenka.
Wildlife expert Bijay Ketan Patnaik said, “People should learn how to avoid conflict with elephants and for that they should not grow cultivation which attracts elephants near jungle lands.”
The move, jointly initiated by members of the Forest Conservation Committee and Athagarh Forest Division, solely aims to increase the count of trees in forests using scientific methods. This will also augment availability of food for elephants who keep veering towards nearby villages in search of food.
A packed mixture of fertile soil, wet sand and cow-dung is first made and shaped into a ball and then a bamboo seed is inserted into the ball to ensure proper germination of the seed. This is done in such a manner that the seed will not ooze out of the ball or get destroyed during strong wind and heavy rainfall. Once the balls with seeds are ready, they can be thrown to faraway and inaccessible places where the seed can take root.
The officials have evidence of the seeds developing into plants, thereby establishing that the method is a big accomplishment towards increasing the forest cover.
Athagarh DFO Sasmita Lenka stated that the new seed-ball technology has already been put into practice in Athagarh and Khuntuni Ranges and it will be implemented in 38 other reserved forests in the next phases.
On the other hand, the environmentalists also have asserted that this speed-ball technology will help in preserving varied species of fauna and flora in the forests. The other major aspect would be to curb the ever-rising elephant-human conflict in the particular forest division, they said.
The forest experts said that shortage of fodder in the forests is one of the major reasons the elephants venture into the human habitation. Therefore, with forestation the elephants would not be deprived of food and also it will improve the condition of the environment.
Speaking on the development, State Chief Wildlife Warden Harishankar Upadhyay said, "Following NTCA letter, Odisha government has agreed to relocate tigress Sundari back to MP. We have already written to Chief Wildlife Warden of Madhya Pradesh. They will send a team for shifting Sundari and relocation will be carried out at any point of time now."
Reportedly, NTCA in its letter had said that tigress T-2 cannot be allowed to be kept in small enclosure any longer. In the interest of Tiger Conservation, the Tigress T-2 shall be withdrawn and brought to Ghorela Centre at Kanha Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh with immediate effect for re-wilding and subsequent release to suitable habitat. The letter further stated that the tiger translocation programme at Satkosia tiger reserve shall be suspended till the ground situation improves as per NTCA guidelines, advisories and subsequent feasibility study by NTCA.
Human Elephant Conflict
Apart from shifting of Sundari, Upadhyay informed that the forest department personnel of Odisha will undergo a special training in West Bengal this month to tackle rising human-elephant conflict. During the session, they will be imparted training on how the forest personnel in the neighbouring state have been able to handle the conflict.
"In order to reduce further losses to human habitat, we are sending some of our officers to West Bengal which has been successful in tackling the menace. A special vehicle will be brought from West Bengal to control elephant rampage. As far as radio-collaring the elephants is concerned, the Indian Institute of Science has given an estimation. We need to track wild elephants to ensure that people do not suffer," said Upadhyay.