Even as concern over poaching and killing of elephants in the state continues to grow, there is some good news from Subasi reserve forest under Khuntuni range in the Athagarh forest division. This forest has emerged as a safe haven for pachyderms, as evident from the birth of four calves recorded in the past three years. An elephant calf was born in the forest area a few weeks ago, causing jubilation among forest officials as well as animal lovers.
It is significant to note that several elephant deaths have been reported from the neighbouring Dhenkanal district in the past. Some of these were clear cases of poaching. Environmentalists have also been expressing concern over the menace of poaching for ivory in Narasinghpur, Badamba and Athagarh forest ranges in the Athagarh division. But the Khuntuni range remains an exception. With very little human activity in this forest, it has been attracting elephants from the Chandaka division as well. It has become a secure habitat for elephants from the point of view of procreation.
The proactive attitude of senior forest officials in the area has contributed immensely to making this division extremely animal-friendly. Elephants, in particular, appear to be enjoying their stay in this forest where a ‘Hati Sathi Bahini’ (elephant-friendly force) had been formed in 2018 at the initiative of a senior forest officer. Local people have also joined the conservation effort by planting fruit-bearing trees which animals in general and elephants in particular love.
Elephants normally prefer dense forests with an abundance of water bodies and food and as little human interference as possible. Sustained awareness drive by the forest officials has turned Subasi reserve forest into a natural habitat where elephants can roam around without any fear. This is bound to result in an increase in their population.
Such initiatives are important in a state like Odisha where human-animal conflict has been on the rise, with elephants raiding human habitations in different parts of the state. Incidents of human casualties in elephant attacks are reported as frequently as the death of the pachyderms which either get killed by vengeful villagers or by poachers.
The statistics are frightening. Between 2011-12 and 2017-18, at least 393 elephants have been killed in the state. Most of them have fallen prey to poaching and electrocution by high-tension wires. There have also been cases of deliberate electrocutions with vengeful victims of elephant raids pulling down wires and letting them fall in the path of pachyderms. Elephants, too, killed more than 300 persons during this period besides damaging 4,405 houses and 69,071 acres of crops. Following each case of death and depredation, the government has to meet compensation demands that put extra burden on the exchequer.
This trend must stop. For that, more elephant-friendly initiatives – just like the one seen in the Subasi reserve forest area – are imperative.
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