Rumble in the Jungle

The Assam government has proposed the creation of five special elephant reserves. The proposed reserves—Sonitpur, Chirang-Ripu, Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong, Dehing-Patkai and Dhansiri-Lungding—are to cover an area of about 10,900 sq km. ‘‘There is no short-term solution to this problem. A campaign has been launched to educate people on the need to save the elephant,’’ says Bordoloi.

A recent study conducted by the Assam chapter of Worldwide Find for Nature (WWF) said large-scale destruction of forests due to increasing human pressure was the main reason behind the growing man-elephant conflict in the state. Elephants often stray out in search of food, damaging standing crops in villages, compelling people to hit back. Elephants have been poisoned and electrocuted while there have been other instances of them being hit or run over by trucks and trains.

On last count, Assam had over 5,250 elephants. Officials say the number would soon cross 5,500.

Encroachment of elephant corridors and habitats has further aggravated the problem. ‘‘Elephants on the move suddenly find their corridor disturbed, and thus stray into human habitation, leading to conflicts,’’ says Bibhab Kumar Talukdar of Aaranyak, a conservationist organisation. In just three months in 2001, at least 33 elephants were poisoned to death in Sonitpur district in northern Assam, says Talukdar.

Sonitpur is a district which has recorded maximum encroachment of forests in the state. It was only earlier this month that while a stone quarry was being built between Kaziranga National Park and Nambor reserved forest, a herd of elephants strayed out and killed six people.