2 weeks ago
Elephant Day: Minister Flags Shrinking Forests, Blocked Corridors
Elephants are big animals that need lots of forest to live in.
But forests are getting smaller because cities are growing and more people are moving in.
Because of this, elephants sometimes walk into towns and villages looking for food.
On World Elephant Day, a special day to think about elephants, the forest minister talked about this problem.
He said elephant paths, called corridors, have been blocked, which makes it harder for elephants to move safely.
People at a meeting discussed how to protect these paths and help elephants.
The minister also said that trained pet elephants, called kunkis, will get a day off from work every year on World Elephant Day.
He visited a national park and fed and bathed the elephants.
His message was that everyone should love elephants and other wild animals.
State forest minister Manoj Oraon flagged shrinking forest cover and blocked elephant corridors as key drivers of human-elephant conflict on World Elephant Day.
A seminar in Chalsa, Jalpaiguri, hosted by SPOAR, discussed protecting traditional elephant routes and long-term strategies to reduce human-elephant conflict.
Oraon announced that all departmental 'kunki' elephants across the state will get a day's leave on World Elephant Day every year from next year.
Forest official Bhaskar J.V. said forest density suitable for elephants has declined in north Bengal and traditional corridors have been blocked or closed.
Oraon visited Jaldapara National Park and the Dhupjhora elephant camp, where he fed and bathed elephants and took part in a puja.
- Who
- State forest minister Manoj Oraon, forest officials including chief conservator of forests (wildlife, north) Bhaskar J.V., and representatives of SPOAR and the tea industry.
- What
- The observance of World Elephant Day, featuring a seminar on elephant conservation and human-elephant conflict, and an announcement that 'kunki' elephants will get an annual day of leave.
- Where
- Chalsa, Jalpaiguri (seminar); Jaldapara National Park in Alipurduar and the Dhupjhora elephant camp (minister's visits), in north Bengal.
- When
- World Elephant Day, on Wednesday.
- Why
- Concern over shrinking forest cover, blocked elephant corridors, declining food sources, and rising human-elephant conflict driven by urbanisation and population growth.
Forest conservation view
Human settlement view
Cause of elephant incursions
Forest conservation view
Shrinking forests, declining fodder, and blocked elephant corridors are pushing elephants into human settlements, as flagged by the minister and a tea garden manager.
Human settlement view
An official noted that people are also entering forests, so the question of why people enter forests must be considered alongside why elephants enter settlements.
Forest department problems
Forest conservation view
Minister Oraon said the previous state government had not given adequate attention to issues such as vacant posts, mahouts, 'patawalas,' and fuel for departmental vehicles.
Human settlement view
Oraon noted that the current government is only three months old and said it needs time to address these problems.
Key facts
- Event
- World Elephant Day
- Key speaker
- Manoj Oraon, state forest minister
- Seminar venue
- Private resort, Chalsa, Jalpaiguri
- Seminar host
- Society for Protecting Ophiofauna & Animal Rights (SPOAR)
- Key announcement
- All 'kunki' elephants across the state to get a day's leave every World Elephant Day from next year
- Sites visited
- Jaldapara National Park (Alipurduar), Dhupjhora elephant camp, Holong river
- Key concerns
- Shrinking forest cover, blocked elephant corridors, declining food sources in forests
Quotes
State Forest Minister Manoj Oraon
West Bengal forest minister
“The contribution of ‘kunki’ elephants for conservation of forests and wildlife is remarkable. That is why, every year, on this day, they will get a day’s leave.”
telegraphindia.com
““With the way urbanisation and population are increasing, preventing conflict between humans and wildlife is becoming a major challenge.””
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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