Man and elephant conflict is a burning issue in recent times. Elephants are being killed frequently either by train or by the villagers in different parts of West Bengal. Elephants commonly known as Asian Elephant is the India's National heritage animal. Elephants are the Schedule 1 category animal under the Indian Wild Life (Protection) Act and has been declared as endangered animal by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN ) and placed in the Red list.
According to the census of 2017, estimated population of elephants in India was 27312 out of which wild elephants in West Bengal was 682 which spread over in two regions ie North Bengal and South Bengal. According to the Article 51A of the Constitution of India, it is the duty of every citizen to protect the natural environment including forests, rivers, wild life but in most of the cases, those provisions are being violated and / or ignored frequently.
Problems regarding killing of elephants and man and elephant conflict are different in North Bengal and South Bengal. In North Bengal, elephants are being killed and/ or injured for over speeding of trains as because there is a long railway track through the forest area.
The problem in South Bengal is different from North Bengal. Apart from migratory elephants, there are resident elephants also. Migratory elephants are regularly entering from Dalma range into the forest area of Paschim Medinipur, Jhargram, Bankura and Purulia. In Dalma range, there is huge shortage of food due to massive deforestation. Comparatively, sufficient food is available in South Bengal area and as a result of which the elephants are migrating frequently from Dalma range.
For these migrating, the elephants are not getting sufficient food and frequently entering into the localities in search of food which causes man and elephant conflict. Elephant migration corridors and routes are gradually damages or encroached by construction.
Moreover, migratory elephants are getting their most preferred food like sugar cane in Paschim Medinipur which is one of the main reason for prolonged stay of the migratory elephants.
During their prolonged stay, they cause extensive damages to the life and the properties of the local people. The issue of man and elephant conflict can be reduced by improving forest ecosystem, environmental stability through conservation of natural forests, biodiversity and ecological balance, by increasing suitable plantations, prevention of all sorts of mining activities in Dalma hills etc.
So far the problems in North Bengal region is concerned, the issues can be taken up with the Railway authorities. In spite of specific instructions, the drivers are not maintaining the speed limit in the forest area. Penal action can be taken against those persons.
The number of under passes below the railway track be increased for smooth movement of the elephants. The number of forest guards be increased around the elephant corridors to alert the train drivers regarding elephant movement and speed limit.
Man and elephant conflicts are a great social and ecological challenge. To cope with the situation, joint efforts are to be taken, single preventive measures are not sufficient to reduce the man and elephant conflict and to protect the wild life.
- By Dr. Debasish Mukherjee, Advocate.
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