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Tag: man animal conflict

  • Kerala: Wild elephant inhabitants declines by 58 per cent, solely 84 tigers in Wayanad

    By Express News Service

    KOCHI: Amidst the growing man-animal battle which has led to widespread protests within the excessive ranges, a statewide enumeration performed by the forest division revealed that the wild elephant inhabitants has declined by 58.19% in Kerala over the previous 5 years.

    As per the enumeration performed in 2017, Kerala had 5,706 wild elephants, however the inhabitants declined to 2,386 in 2023.

    Meanwhile, an enumeration of the tiger inhabitants in Wayanad wildlife sanctuary revealed that the inhabitants has come right down to 84 from 120 in 2018. 

    Revealing the figures at a press meet in Thiruvananthapuram, forest minister A Ok Saseendran stated the rationale for the drastic decline in elephant inhabitants could possibly be migration to Karnataka forests.

    The enumeration was performed throughout all south Indian states from May 17 to 19, 2023. The elephant census was performed throughout the identical interval in 2017.

    According to authorities, local weather performs a big position in elephant migration. During the 2017 enumeration, elephants migrated to Kerala as dry climate prevailed in Karnataka. This time, it was raining in Karnataka and the temperature was excessive in Kerala.

    “The elephant enumeration was conducted adopting the block count and dung count method. In block count, the state forests were divided into 610 sample blocks with an average area of 5.78 sq km. In block count 1,920 elephants were counted and the population density was 0.20 per sq km. The total forest area with elephant population is 9,622.33 sq km of which 36.46% has been surveyed,” the minister stated.

    As a part of the dung depend 2,386 elephants had been counted and the inhabitants density was 0.25 per sq km. During the 2017 enumeration, 3,322 wild elephants had been sighted in block depend whereas 5,706 elephants had been estimated in dung depend.

    As many as 251 elephant herds had been situated through the block depend and 700 wild elephants had been a part of these herds. As a part of the tiger enumeration 297 digital camera traps had been put in within the Wayanad sanctuary, Aralam and Kottiyoor forests.

    From the 297 photographs, 84 tigers had been collected from 160 areas. Of the 84 tigers, 69 had been within the Wayanad sanctuary whereas 8 had been within the North Wayanad division and seven had been within the South Wayanad division.

    Of the 84 tigers 45 (54%) had been enumerated in 2016, 2018 and 2022 and 39 tigers (46%) had been sighted for the primary time. The evaluation recognized 29 male tigers and 47 females. The gender of the 8 tigers couldn’t be confirmed. The density of tigers in Wayanad panorama is 7.7 per 100 sq km, which is wholesome, stated Minister Saseendran. 

    KOCHI: Amidst the growing man-animal battle which has led to widespread protests within the excessive ranges, a statewide enumeration performed by the forest division revealed that the wild elephant inhabitants has declined by 58.19% in Kerala over the previous 5 years.

    As per the enumeration performed in 2017, Kerala had 5,706 wild elephants, however the inhabitants declined to 2,386 in 2023.

    Meanwhile, an enumeration of the tiger inhabitants in Wayanad wildlife sanctuary revealed that the inhabitants has come right down to 84 from 120 in 2018. googletag.cmd.push(operate() googletag.show(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); );

    Revealing the figures at a press meet in Thiruvananthapuram, forest minister A Ok Saseendran stated the rationale for the drastic decline in elephant inhabitants could possibly be migration to Karnataka forests.

    The enumeration was performed throughout all south Indian states from May 17 to 19, 2023. The elephant census was performed throughout the identical interval in 2017.

    According to authorities, local weather performs a big position in elephant migration. During the 2017 enumeration, elephants migrated to Kerala as dry climate prevailed in Karnataka. This time, it was raining in Karnataka and the temperature was excessive in Kerala.

    “The elephant enumeration was conducted adopting the block count and dung count method. In block count, the state forests were divided into 610 sample blocks with an average area of 5.78 sq km. In block count 1,920 elephants were counted and the population density was 0.20 per sq km. The total forest area with elephant population is 9,622.33 sq km of which 36.46% has been surveyed,” the minister stated.

    As a part of the dung depend 2,386 elephants had been counted and the inhabitants density was 0.25 per sq km. During the 2017 enumeration, 3,322 wild elephants had been sighted in block depend whereas 5,706 elephants had been estimated in dung depend.

    As many as 251 elephant herds had been situated through the block depend and 700 wild elephants had been a part of these herds. As a part of the tiger enumeration 297 digital camera traps had been put in within the Wayanad sanctuary, Aralam and Kottiyoor forests.

    From the 297 photographs, 84 tigers had been collected from 160 areas. Of the 84 tigers, 69 had been within the Wayanad sanctuary whereas 8 had been within the North Wayanad division and seven had been within the South Wayanad division.

    Of the 84 tigers 45 (54%) had been enumerated in 2016, 2018 and 2022 and 39 tigers (46%) had been sighted for the primary time. The evaluation recognized 29 male tigers and 47 females. The gender of the 8 tigers couldn’t be confirmed. The density of tigers in Wayanad panorama is 7.7 per 100 sq km, which is wholesome, stated Minister Saseendran. 

  • India’s profitable saltwater crocodile conservation programme stares at new challenges

    Express News Service

    BHUBANESWAR: India’s saltwater crocodile conservation programme, one of many success tales within the final 48 years, is gazing new challenges. From native extinction in Kerala and Tamil Nadu to proposals up to now to delist the salties within the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, it has reached a degree the place dialogue on scientific administration is crying out for consideration.

    The rising battle in Odisha’s Bhitarkanika National Park is the latest addition to the conservation administration debate. A rising density of reptiles and the ever-increasing anthropogenic strain has resulted in at the least 10 fatalities in crocodile assaults up to now yr.

    The crocodile conservation programme by captive breeding began in India round 1974-75 after indiscriminate killing and habitat loss pushed the inhabitants of estuarine crocodiles to the brink of extinction. The government-run programme was launched in Odisha in collaboration with UNDP and Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) in 1975. 

    This coupled with different measures, together with notification of Bhitarkanika as a wildlife sanctuary, contributed considerably to the revival of the inhabitants within the subsequent twenty years. As the quantity elevated—from simply round 96 in 1974 to over 1,000 in 1995—the Forest Department needed to cease the breeding programme. 

    The safety measures put in place, nonetheless, continued to complement the expansion of the estuarine crocodiles. With a head depend of 1,793, Bhitarkanika is now residence to just about 70% of India’s saltwater crocodile inhabitants. However, what has offered an issue is the density of the saltwater crocodile—it has already surpassed the density of 5 to 6 crocodiles per sq. km of water. 

    This has began throwing recent challenges primarily on account of equally rising human actions and growing dependency of individuals on Bramhani and Kharasrota rivers in addition to native nullahs and water-bodies in and round Bhitarkanika nationwide park, a vibrant mangrove eco-system of India.

    Inadequate family piped water connection within the fringe villages in addition to the pure dependence on the river as a part of socio-cultural behaviour has solely led to escalating conflicts as spillover inhabitants of crocodiles present up close to human habitations. 

    The Odisha Forest Department, in response, unfurled a spate of public consciousness programmes to arrest the battle within the river-dependent villages. 

    However, specialists really feel the present scenario in Bhitarkanika underlines the necessity for acceptable intervention to encourage human-crocodile coexistence in a sustainable method. Shesdev Patro and Sunil Kumar Padhi, two researchers from Berhampur University in Odisha, of their examine titled ‘Saltwater crocodile and human conflict around Bhitarkanika National Park, India: A rising concern for determining conservation limits’, underlined the necessity to re-think the technique.

    “The scenario has risen to an alarming stage where we have to rethink the conservation strategy of the species and develop a suitable management plan for the coexistence of these reptiles and the inhabitants in their surroundings,” the paper mentioned.

    The examine authors say the conservation and administration technique of estuarine crocodiles ought to embrace the willpower of the carrying capability of the sanctuary, minimising exploitation of pure sources, relocation of extra inhabitants to different possible websites and native consciousness amongst others.

    A girl fetches water from a river infested with crocodiles. Rise in crocodile depend at Odisha’s Bhitarkanika National Park has led to a surge of human-wildlife battle  | Debadatta Mallick

    Herpetologist and scientist from the Zoological Survey of India Pratyush Mohapatra feels the methods should be localised and case-specific in terms of measures required to forestall battle.

    He says this can be very necessary to lift consciousness concerning the behaviour of those reptiles and plans to keep away from man-crocodile battle however underlines the necessity for creating fast response groups to relocate crocodiles.

    “Mapping the density and spillover population regions is a must besides putting in place rapid response teams by the Forest department. These teams must respond within two to three hours and be equipped with infrastructure,” Mohapatra says.

    Experts level out that well timed intervention is extraordinarily necessary which in any other case could have an effect on conservation because it occurred in southern Indian states the place the presence of saltwater crocodile species has dwindled.

    BHUBANESWAR: India’s saltwater crocodile conservation programme, one of many success tales within the final 48 years, is gazing new challenges. From native extinction in Kerala and Tamil Nadu to proposals up to now to delist the salties within the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, it has reached a degree the place dialogue on scientific administration is crying out for consideration.

    The rising battle in Odisha’s Bhitarkanika National Park is the latest addition to the conservation administration debate. A rising density of reptiles and the ever-increasing anthropogenic strain has resulted in at the least 10 fatalities in crocodile assaults up to now yr.

    The crocodile conservation programme by captive breeding began in India round 1974-75 after indiscriminate killing and habitat loss pushed the inhabitants of estuarine crocodiles to the brink of extinction. The government-run programme was launched in Odisha in collaboration with UNDP and Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) in 1975. googletag.cmd.push(perform() googletag.show(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); );

    This coupled with different measures, together with notification of Bhitarkanika as a wildlife sanctuary, contributed considerably to the revival of the inhabitants within the subsequent twenty years. As the quantity elevated—from simply round 96 in 1974 to over 1,000 in 1995—the Forest Department needed to cease the breeding programme. 

    The safety measures put in place, nonetheless, continued to complement the expansion of the estuarine crocodiles. With a head depend of 1,793, Bhitarkanika is now residence to just about 70% of India’s saltwater crocodile inhabitants. However, what has offered an issue is the density of the saltwater crocodile—it has already surpassed the density of 5 to 6 crocodiles per sq. km of water. 

    This has began throwing recent challenges primarily on account of equally rising human actions and growing dependency of individuals on Bramhani and Kharasrota rivers in addition to native nullahs and water-bodies in and round Bhitarkanika nationwide park, a vibrant mangrove eco-system of India.

    Inadequate family piped water connection within the fringe villages in addition to the pure dependence on the river as a part of socio-cultural behaviour has solely led to escalating conflicts as spillover inhabitants of crocodiles present up close to human habitations. 

    The Odisha Forest Department, in response, unfurled a spate of public consciousness programmes to arrest the battle within the river-dependent villages. 

    However, specialists really feel the present scenario in Bhitarkanika underlines the necessity for acceptable intervention to encourage human-crocodile coexistence in a sustainable method. Shesdev Patro and Sunil Kumar Padhi, two researchers from Berhampur University in Odisha, of their examine titled ‘Saltwater crocodile and human conflict around Bhitarkanika National Park, India: A rising concern for determining conservation limits’, underlined the necessity to re-think the technique.

    “The scenario has risen to an alarming stage where we have to rethink the conservation strategy of the species and develop a suitable management plan for the coexistence of these reptiles and the inhabitants in their surroundings,” the paper mentioned.

    The examine authors say the conservation and administration technique of estuarine crocodiles ought to embrace the willpower of the carrying capability of the sanctuary, minimising exploitation of pure sources, relocation of extra inhabitants to different possible websites and native consciousness amongst others.

    A girl fetches water from a river infested with crocodiles. Rise in crocodile depend at Odisha’s Bhitarkanika National Park has led to a surge of human-wildlife battle  | Debadatta Mallick

    Herpetologist and scientist from the Zoological Survey of India Pratyush Mohapatra feels the methods should be localised and case-specific in terms of measures required to forestall battle.

    He says this can be very necessary to lift consciousness concerning the behaviour of those reptiles and plans to keep away from man-crocodile battle however underlines the necessity for creating fast response groups to relocate crocodiles.

    “Mapping the density and spillover population regions is a must besides putting in place rapid response teams by the Forest department. These teams must respond within two to three hours and be equipped with infrastructure,” Mohapatra says.

    Experts level out that well timed intervention is extraordinarily necessary which in any other case could have an effect on conservation because it occurred in southern Indian states the place the presence of saltwater crocodile species has dwindled.

  • Man-animal battle in Odisha: Too so much ache, too little help

    Express News Service

    BHUBANESWAR: Basant Pradhan groans in ache. It has been higher than six months since he escaped demise by a whisker. An inhabitant of Pithabata village near Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR), Basant was trampled and virtually killed all through a direct encounter with an elephant on a forest road in September closing 12 months.

    The trauma lingers; the harm has remained as a result of the broken rib and the left hand have not healed, totally. Now he has developed a painful limp because of the leg too was fractured. After being admitted to a hospital in Cuttack, his scenario improved marginally nevertheless he has not been ready to walk with out assist.

    Basant’s family was compelled to hold him once more residence and proceed treatment at a Baripada hospital. He is now incapable of doing any work. The man who as quickly as managed to earn at least Rs 250-300 a day is now completely relying on his family for survival. Both Basant and his family are nervous if he would ever be completely match. They are moreover clueless if the 39-year-old will be eligible to get pension benefits extended to differently-abled people.

    Jagan, Basant’s youthful brother, talked about the ex gratia compensation of Rs 1 lakh they obtained from the Forest division was exhausted on reimbursement of the mortgage taken to cowl the treatment.

    “Whatever we received was spent on treatment and loan repayment. Even my brother’s condition didn’t improve,” he rues.

    Like Basant, incapacity benefits have eluded 47-year-old Jayanti Mahanta, one different sufferer of man-animal battle in Odisha. She was declared fully disabled after sustaining an important head harm in an elephant assault throughout the Benasol house of Mayurbhanj two years once more.

    Jayanti’s brother Iswar Chandra Mahanta talked about his sister was the one actual bread-earner of her family and earned her livelihood amassing Mahua flowers from the forest and doing small jobs. She, nonetheless, isn’t in a scenario to work after the incident. “The injuries on head affected her memory too,” Iswar talked about.

    Out-of-pocket payments on effectively being have burdened Jayanti’s family too. More than Rs 2 lakh has already been spent on her treatment in direction of the federal authorities’s ex gratia assist of Rs 1 lakh. There isn’t any help coming as her 27-year-old son, who achieved higher education not too way back, continues to be looking for a job.

    Basant and Jayanti, nonetheless, normally are usually not the one victims of human-wildlife battle and dwelling miserable life after being left with a incapacity. Statistics furnished by the Forest, Environment and Climate Change division reveals that at least 212 people have been left fully disabled in elephant assaults throughout the state throughout the closing 10 years. The gravity of the battle may very well be gauged from the reality that the amount was 5 in 2012-13 and jumped to 51 in 2021-22, the very best throughout the closing decade.

    Jayanti Mahanta sits at her residence at
    Makunda village in Mayurbhanj

    The exact number of of us left with incapacity in a single kind or the other might very effectively be significantly higher given the battle circumstances with bears and completely different wild animals. Baripada forest division, part of Similipal National Park, witnessed a spurt in such cases in newest events. It reported seven eternal harm cases throughout the closing three years. Of this, at least three are on account of sloth bear assaults.

    A majority of the victims acknowledge that inadequate ex gratia sanctioned by the state authorities is the first important downside after a life-crippling mishap. In actuality, Odisha affords one among many lowest referring to compensation for these struggling eternal incapacity in human-wildlife conflicts.

    As per current norms, a person is entitled to a compensation of Rs 1 lakh throughout the event of eternal incapacity as in direction of states like Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu the place the ex gratia stands at Rs 5 lakh.

    The state’s assist to those sustaining a short nevertheless important harm in wild animal assaults is nil compared with Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Kerala and Tamil Nadu which provide compensation throughout the fluctuate of Rs 10,000 to Rs 1.25 lakh. Moreover, the compassionate grant supplied throughout the event of human demise on account of battle with wildlife in Odisha is Rs 4 lakh compared with a grant of Rs 20 lakh in Maharashtra, Rs 6 lakh in Kerala and Chhattisgarh and Rs 5 lakh in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.

    Iswar says if his sister might very effectively be included in a pension scheme meant for differently-abled and her son provided a job or expertise teaching for a dwelling, the family would not be in such a decided state. Family members of Basant to pitch for comparable help for the kin which could permit to them or their relations to earn a livelihood.

    Wildlife conservationists not solely identify for passable compensation however moreover for proper rehabilitation of the victims to cease extra escalation of man-animal conflicts throughout the battle zones of the state. The ex gratia Odisha authorities pays to victims of man-wildlife battle is only a consolation, they’re saying.

    A compassionate grant cannot be a solution in the long run as a result of it leaves a big gap between the exact loss and charge making points additional very important, talked about Jitasatru Mohanty, a retired IFS officer and trustee of Save Elephant Foundation Trust.

    People watch an elephant that entered a village in Mayurbhanj district

    “In absence of awareness and adequate support from the government, people tend to develop an antagonistic approach towards wild animals, elephants in this case. They treat the wildlife as a nuisance, cause of misery and a threat to their lives and property,” talked about Mohanty. His logic simply is not faraway from the truth given a spurt in cases of deliberate electrocution of elephants, poaching, and poisoning currently.

    “Offered alternative source of livelihood or paid adequate grant, victims will feel assured. This is extremely important in the prevention of a hostile attitude built towards elephants which face the most animosity. Else, instances of poaching, poisoning and electrocution will only go up,” he cautions.

    A wildlife warden unwilling to be acknowledged concurs with the view. “Enhancing the grant and providing alternative means of occupation to the affected person or offering a job to one of his/her family members will be a huge solution. We had this norm for government servants getting permanently incapacitated during the service period. We only need to extend it to the victims of the human-wildlife conflicts,” he talked about.

    Requesting anonymity, a senior forest official from the State wildlife wing moreover talked about the federal authorities desires to provide at least a Group D put as much as the sufferer throughout the incapacity grade. “This should be done immediately if the victim is young or middle-aged, a bread earner and/or have minor kids in the family. Disability grade is just as the person is unable to do normal work,” he talked about.

    PCCF (wildlife) SK Popli talked about, “Compassionate grant for the injury had been revised from Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh in 2014 and we have proposed the government to increase it further which is under active consideration.”Besides, skill-based teaching are moreover being carried out for communities near forest areas to create additional livelihood alternate options for them, he added.

    Senior officers stage out that though there is no norm to provide job to such victims or any of their relations, they often engage kin of the victims as watchers, security squad members or another forest work they might very effectively be involved with.

    “We will explore how we could extend need-based skill training to the victims to support their livelihood. Besides, the proposal to hike the compensation for permanent disability is expected to be increased significantly to support the victim and their family members financially,” a senior IFS officer talked about.

    Odisha one among many worst in man-elephant battle

    Despite efforts of the state authorities, Odisha continues to remain one among many worst state by means of human-elephant battle.  Statistics suggest, out of over 1,570 human deaths reported on account of elephant assaults throughout the nation throughout the closing three years between 2019-20 and 2021-22, Odisha has reported the very best 322 adopted by 291 in Jharkhand, 240 in West Bengal, 229 in Assam, 183 in Chhattisgarh and 152 in Tamil Nadu. 

    The state moreover recorded the second highest elephant deaths on account of electrocution on this interval. Out of an entire of 198 such deaths throughout the nation, Odisha has reported 30 whereas Assam tops with 36 jumbo electrocutions. The state has moreover reported at least eight elephant deaths in a put together accident between 2019-20 and 2021-22.

    BHUBANESWAR: Basant Pradhan groans in ache. It has been higher than six months since he escaped demise by a whisker. An inhabitant of Pithabata village near Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR), Basant was trampled and virtually killed all through a direct encounter with an elephant on a forest road in September closing 12 months.

    The trauma lingers; the harm has remained as a result of the broken rib and the left hand have not healed, totally. Now he has developed a painful limp because of the leg too was fractured. After being admitted to a hospital in Cuttack, his scenario improved marginally nevertheless he has not been ready to walk with out assist.

    Basant’s family was compelled to hold him once more residence and proceed treatment at a Baripada hospital. He is now incapable of doing any work. The man who as quickly as managed to earn at least Rs 250-300 a day is now completely relying on his family for survival. Both Basant and his family are nervous if he would ever be completely match. They are moreover clueless if the 39-year-old will be eligible to get pension benefits extended to differently-abled people.googletag.cmd.push(carry out() googletag.present(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); );

    Jagan, Basant’s youthful brother, talked about the ex gratia compensation of Rs 1 lakh they obtained from the Forest division was exhausted on reimbursement of the mortgage taken to cowl the treatment.

    “Whatever we received was spent on treatment and loan repayment. Even my brother’s condition didn’t improve,” he rues.

    Like Basant, incapacity benefits have eluded 47-year-old Jayanti Mahanta, one different sufferer of man-animal battle in Odisha. She was declared fully disabled after sustaining an important head harm in an elephant assault throughout the Benasol house of Mayurbhanj two years once more.

    Jayanti’s brother Iswar Chandra Mahanta talked about his sister was the one actual bread-earner of her family and earned her livelihood amassing Mahua flowers from the forest and doing small jobs. She, nonetheless, isn’t in a scenario to work after the incident. “The injuries on head affected her memory too,” Iswar talked about.

    Out-of-pocket payments on effectively being have burdened Jayanti’s family too. More than Rs 2 lakh has already been spent on her treatment in direction of the federal authorities’s ex gratia assist of Rs 1 lakh. There isn’t any help coming as her 27-year-old son, who achieved higher education not too way back, continues to be looking for a job.

    Basant and Jayanti, nonetheless, normally are usually not the one victims of human-wildlife battle and dwelling miserable life after being left with a incapacity. Statistics furnished by the Forest, Environment and Climate Change division reveals that at least 212 people have been left fully disabled in elephant assaults throughout the state throughout the closing 10 years. The gravity of the battle may very well be gauged from the reality that the amount was 5 in 2012-13 and jumped to 51 in 2021-22, the very best throughout the closing decade.

    Jayanti Mahanta sits at her residence at
    Makunda village in MayurbhanjThe exact number of of us left with incapacity in a single kind or the other might very effectively be significantly higher given the battle circumstances with bears and completely different wild animals. Baripada forest division, part of Similipal National Park, witnessed a spurt in such cases in newest events. It reported seven eternal harm cases throughout the closing three years. Of this, at least three are on account of sloth bear assaults.

    A majority of the victims acknowledge that inadequate ex gratia sanctioned by the state authorities is the first important downside after a life-crippling mishap. In actuality, Odisha affords one among many lowest referring to compensation for these struggling eternal incapacity in human-wildlife conflicts.

    As per current norms, a person is entitled to a compensation of Rs 1 lakh throughout the event of eternal incapacity as in direction of states like Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu the place the ex gratia stands at Rs 5 lakh.

    The state’s assist to those sustaining a short nevertheless important harm in wild animal assaults is nil compared with Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Kerala and Tamil Nadu which provide compensation throughout the fluctuate of Rs 10,000 to Rs 1.25 lakh. Moreover, the compassionate grant supplied throughout the event of human demise on account of battle with wildlife in Odisha is Rs 4 lakh compared with a grant of Rs 20 lakh in Maharashtra, Rs 6 lakh in Kerala and Chhattisgarh and Rs 5 lakh in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.

    Iswar says if his sister might very effectively be included in a pension scheme meant for differently-abled and her son provided a job or expertise teaching for a dwelling, the family would not be in such a decided state. Family members of Basant to pitch for comparable help for the kin which could permit to them or their relations to earn a livelihood.

    Wildlife conservationists not solely identify for passable compensation however moreover for proper rehabilitation of the victims to cease extra escalation of man-animal conflicts throughout the battle zones of the state. The ex gratia Odisha authorities pays to victims of man-wildlife battle is only a consolation, they’re saying.

    A compassionate grant cannot be a solution in the long run as a result of it leaves a big gap between the exact loss and charge making points additional very important, talked about Jitasatru Mohanty, a retired IFS officer and trustee of Save Elephant Foundation Trust.

    People watch an elephant that entered a village in Mayurbhanj district

    “In absence of awareness and adequate support from the government, people tend to develop an antagonistic approach towards wild animals, elephants in this case. They treat the wildlife as a nuisance, cause of misery and a threat to their lives and property,” talked about Mohanty. His logic simply is not faraway from the truth given a spurt in cases of deliberate electrocution of elephants, poaching, and poisoning currently.

    “Offered alternative source of livelihood or paid adequate grant, victims will feel assured. This is extremely important in the prevention of a hostile attitude built towards elephants which face the most animosity. Else, instances of poaching, poisoning and electrocution will only go up,” he cautions.

    A wildlife warden unwilling to be acknowledged concurs with the view. “Enhancing the grant and providing alternative means of occupation to the affected person or offering a job to one of his/her family members will be a huge solution. We had this norm for government servants getting permanently incapacitated during the service period. We only need to extend it to the victims of the human-wildlife conflicts,” he talked about.

    Requesting anonymity, a senior forest official from the State wildlife wing moreover talked about the federal authorities desires to provide at least a Group D put as much as the sufferer throughout the incapacity grade. “This should be done immediately if the victim is young or middle-aged, a bread earner and/or have minor kids in the family. Disability grade is just as the person is unable to do normal work,” he talked about.

    PCCF (wildlife) SK Popli talked about, “Compassionate grant for the injury had been revised from Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh in 2014 and we have proposed the government to increase it further which is under active consideration.”Besides, skill-based teaching are moreover being carried out for communities near forest areas to create additional livelihood alternate options for them, he added.

    Senior officers stage out that though there is no norm to provide job to such victims or any of their relations, they often engage kin of the victims as watchers, security squad members or another forest work they might very effectively be involved with.

    “We will explore how we could extend need-based skill training to the victims to support their livelihood. Besides, the proposal to hike the compensation for permanent disability is expected to be increased significantly to support the victim and their family members financially,” a senior IFS officer talked about.

    Odisha one among many worst in man-elephant battle

    Despite efforts of the state authorities, Odisha continues to remain one among many worst state by means of human-elephant battle.  Statistics suggest, out of over 1,570 human deaths reported on account of elephant assaults throughout the nation throughout the closing three years between 2019-20 and 2021-22, Odisha has reported the very best 322 adopted by 291 in Jharkhand, 240 in West Bengal, 229 in Assam, 183 in Chhattisgarh and 152 in Tamil Nadu. 

    The state moreover recorded the second highest elephant deaths on account of electrocution on this interval. Out of an entire of 198 such deaths throughout the nation, Odisha has reported 30 whereas Assam tops with 36 jumbo electrocutions. The state has moreover reported at least eight elephant deaths in a put together accident between 2019-20 and 2021-22.

  • Jharkhand imposes Section 144 as lone elephant kills 16 in 12 days in Ranchi

    Express News Service

    RANCHI: In an uncommon incident, the Ranchi district administration issued prohibitory orders below part 144 of CrPC within the Itki block of the state capital to maintain villagers away from the wild elephant, which trampled 4 individuals to loss of life on Tuesday.

    According to forest officers, the elephant has taken the lives of over 16 individuals up to now in 5 districts of Jharkhand previously 12 days after it obtained separated from its herd. The deaths had been reported from Hazaribagh, Ramgarh, Chatra, Lohardaga and Ranchi districts.

    On Monday, the elephant killed 5 individuals in Lohardaga; three of them had been killed within the morning at a village below the Bhandra police station space, whereas one other girl was killed in a separate incident by the wild tusker in Kudu.

    Following experiences of individuals gathering close to the lone tusker out of curiosity or with an intention to tug it out in Itki Block of Ranchi, Sadar Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) has imposed prohibitory orders within the area

    “In order to check loss of life and property emerging out of the man-animal conflict in Itki Block of Ranchi, prohibitory orders under section 144 have been imposed in Itki Block as the possibility of the villagers assembling near the wild tusker to drag it out cannot be ruled out,” said the order issued by Sadar (SDO), Ranchi.

    Under this order, 5 or extra individuals assembling in a single place is prohibited, it added. Meanwhile, persons are being made conscious to steer clear of the wild tusker by the forest officers.

    “The primary reason behind going this elephant’s violence is that it is a lone tusker which has been separated from its herd and develops a tendency to get irritated. One should keep away from lone tuskers and try not going towards it if it is moving in a particular direction,” mentioned PCCF (Wild Life) Shaskhiar Samanta.

    It assaults individuals solely after it will get irritated and kills whoever is coming in its manner, he added. Samanta knowledgeable us that they’re monitoring its location repeatedly and making all efforts to tug it in direction of the herd from which it has been separated.

    Help from different states may even be taken if required to get management over it. Notably, Jharkhand has been a hotspot for elephants in north India. But, within the final decade, the surge of unregulated and unlawful mining and a spree of infrastructure improvement, have posed new challenges to the free motion of elephants.

    Moreover, the coal mining tasks have largely affected the pure hall of elephants as they create gaps in forest areas which compels the wild tuskers both to maneuver additional in direction of human settlements rising the potential for man-animal battle. As per official information, there was an increase within the man-elephant conflicts as 133 individuals had been killed in jumbo assaults in 2021-22, in opposition to that 84 in 2020-21.

    RANCHI: In an uncommon incident, the Ranchi district administration issued prohibitory orders below part 144 of CrPC within the Itki block of the state capital to maintain villagers away from the wild elephant, which trampled 4 individuals to loss of life on Tuesday.

    According to forest officers, the elephant has taken the lives of over 16 individuals up to now in 5 districts of Jharkhand previously 12 days after it obtained separated from its herd. The deaths had been reported from Hazaribagh, Ramgarh, Chatra, Lohardaga and Ranchi districts.

    On Monday, the elephant killed 5 individuals in Lohardaga; three of them had been killed within the morning at a village below the Bhandra police station space, whereas one other girl was killed in a separate incident by the wild tusker in Kudu.

    Following experiences of individuals gathering close to the lone tusker out of curiosity or with an intention to tug it out in Itki Block of Ranchi, Sadar Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) has imposed prohibitory orders within the area

    “In order to check loss of life and property emerging out of the man-animal conflict in Itki Block of Ranchi, prohibitory orders under section 144 have been imposed in Itki Block as the possibility of the villagers assembling near the wild tusker to drag it out cannot be ruled out,” said the order issued by Sadar (SDO), Ranchi.

    Under this order, 5 or extra individuals assembling in a single place is prohibited, it added. Meanwhile, persons are being made conscious to steer clear of the wild tusker by the forest officers.

    “The primary reason behind going this elephant’s violence is that it is a lone tusker which has been separated from its herd and develops a tendency to get irritated. One should keep away from lone tuskers and try not going towards it if it is moving in a particular direction,” mentioned PCCF (Wild Life) Shaskhiar Samanta.

    It assaults individuals solely after it will get irritated and kills whoever is coming in its manner, he added. Samanta knowledgeable us that they’re monitoring its location repeatedly and making all efforts to tug it in direction of the herd from which it has been separated.

    Help from different states may even be taken if required to get management over it. Notably, Jharkhand has been a hotspot for elephants in north India. But, within the final decade, the surge of unregulated and unlawful mining and a spree of infrastructure improvement, have posed new challenges to the free motion of elephants.

    Moreover, the coal mining tasks have largely affected the pure hall of elephants as they create gaps in forest areas which compels the wild tuskers both to maneuver additional in direction of human settlements rising the potential for man-animal battle. As per official information, there was an increase within the man-elephant conflicts as 133 individuals had been killed in jumbo assaults in 2021-22, in opposition to that 84 in 2020-21.

  • Forest dept sleeps as marauding jumbos raid and ravage crops price Rs 42 crore in Kerala

    Express News Service

    KASARAGOD: On March 12, the Karadka Block panchayat launched a Rs 3.33-crore undertaking to construct a 29-km hanging solar-cum-electric fence to guard 5 panchayats from marauding elephants. After greater than a month, the work has barely begun.

    Farmers, who’re dropping their crops and persistence day by day, mentioned they can’t anticipate the photo voltaic fence to be accomplished, including that the federal government ought to instantly push the 12 elephants which have camped at Muliyar gram panchayat again into the Karnataka forest. “We are not only losing our crops to the elephants. Now, the threat to our lives has also increased,” mentioned C Ramakrishnan, president of the Annakaryam (Elephantine Matter) Farmers Collective, a civil society group fashioned to press the federal government to seek out a right away and lasting resolution to the man-animal battle.

    The Annakaryam Collective circulated a kind among the many residents of Delampady, Karadka, Muliyar, Kuttikol and Bedadka gram panchayats to estimate the extent of their loss. The collective discovered that 390 farmers have misplaced crops and properties price Rs 42 crore since October 2019. “But the last time the Department of Forest compensated a farmer for a wild animal attack was in 2017,” mentioned T Gopinathan Nair of Kanathur in Muliyar.

    The elephants had raided his 10 acres no less than six instances destroying arecanut bushes, plantains, coconut bushes and an enormous community of irrigation pipelines. But he utilized for compensation solely as soon as due to the cumbersome course of. “That application is pending since September 7, 2020,” mentioned Nair.

    The destruction brought on by elephants on the farmland of Savithri Bhat at
    Katipallam close to Kanathur in Muliyar panchayat.

    The Annakaryam Collective’s foremost WhatsApp group is houseful with 256 members and each morning round 2 am, it begins buzzing with voice messages from distraught farmers. “This has been happening since October 2019. The 10 to 12 elephants that arrived then never left,” mentioned Ramakrishnan. They discovered an ideal oasis on the financial institution of the Payaswini River, with quick access to farm lands within the 5 gram panchayats.

    In the early hours of Saturday (April 16), it was the flip of Karthiyani to ship an SOS within the WhatsApp group. Around eight elephants had been rampaging via her plantain backyard at Bathakumri on the banks of the Payaswini. “They destroyed around 20 ready-to-harvest plantain trees, two arecanut trees and two juvenile coconut trees,” she informed TNIE. The elephants entered her sister Sarojini’s adjoining property and broken the crops there.

    Earlier, crackers used to scare the elephants away. “Now they stand there and enjoy it as if it is some temple festival,” mentioned Okay Suresh Babu of Muliyar.

    But when irked, the elephants cost on the individuals bursting crackers. Two weeks in the past, Raveendran Chettathodu (43) had an in depth escape when an elephant slapped him with its trunk.

    Raveendran, a civilian member of the Rapid Response Team (RRT), ended up in hospital with a damaged arm and needed to bear a surgical procedure.

    Savithri Bhat, an aged farmer with round 10 acres of land at Katipallam close to Kanathur, shouldn’t be ready for the Karadka block panchayat’s hanging photo voltaic fence. She is fencing her property along with her personal cash. “It will cost us around Rs 3 lakh but we don’t have a choice. The elephants raid our property every other day,” she mentioned.

    Elephants should not her solely drawback, The farmland alongside the Payaswini is frequented by wild boars and monkeys. “We have 350 coconut trees but we barely get any coconuts. All are taken away by the monkeys and the trees are felled by the elephants for the leaves,” she mentioned.

    The elephants additionally destroy the irrigation pipes criss-crossing her property. “They know there is high-pressure water in the pipeline. So they break the pipe and stand astride to cool their belly,” mentioned Gopinathan Nair.

    Around Rs 45,000 price of pipes and manpower is required to irrigate one acre, mentioned farmers. “If the land is not plain, the cost could rise to Rs 50,000. To lay the pipeline on 10 acres, we need around Rs 5 lakh. The elephants destroy them in one night,” mentioned Nair.

    Protest march to DFO’s workplace on April 21

    The Department of Forest — the implementing company for the 29km-long photo voltaic fence in Karadka block panchayat — mentioned on March 12 that the primary section of the work could be accomplished in a month. But on April 12, Kerala Police Housing & Construction Corp Ltd (KPHCCL), which is constructing the fence, simply began clearing the bottom and felling bushes for the undertaking, mentioned a undertaking engineer. He mentioned there was a delay in documentation. The 8km-long hanging photo voltaic fence from Vellakana to Chamakochi in Delampady panchayat (first section) could be accomplished by May 31, he mentioned.

    Delampady, Karadka, Muliyar, Kuttikol and Bedadka gram panchayats and Karadka block panchayat pitched in to lift Rs 3.33 crore for the undertaking. “The department is showing scant respect for people’s lives, money or property. They should have stuck to the deadline,” mentioned Krishnaraj E B, a farmer in Chembilamka in Muliyar panchayat.

    The least the Forest Department might do is push the elephants again into the primary, he mentioned. The Annakaryam (Elephantine Matter) Farmers Collective mentioned its members are going to take out a march to the Divisional Forest Office on April 21 to protest in opposition to the division’s ineptness in securing the lives and properties of farmers.

  • Chandrapur: 62-year-old man killed in tiger assault, third such loss of life in district this month

    ONE extra individual has been killed in a tiger assault in Chandrapur district.
    “Kashinath Pandurang Talande, aged 62 years, was killed in a wildlife (tiger) attack in the forest of Govindpur Chak village, in Sindewahi Range of Brahmapuri Forest Division around 6.30 pm. He had gone to the forest for grazing cattle,” learn a press notice issued by Chandrapur Chief Conservator of Forest N R Praveen on Saturday.
    This was the third human loss of life on account of tiger assault in Chandrapur district this month. One loss of life was attributable to leopard assault earlier this week.
    With this, the variety of individuals killed in tiger assaults in Chandrapur district this yr up to now has gone as much as 20. Six extra have been killed in leopard assaults within the district this yr.

    Gadchiroli district has seen 5 deaths whereas Yavatmal district had seen one loss of life in tiger assault this yr, taking the overall human fatalities in tiger assaults in Vidarbha to 26.
    With the Yavatmal incident reported on July 9, deaths attributable to tigers within the area this month have gone as much as 4.