Elephants: Once regarded as the pride of the state are
in declining trend
It is so obvious from the Annual Reports of Ministry of Environment and Forest under the Centre and the State governments that there are miles to go with the protection and conservation of wildlife in our State. The dramatic decline in the population of wild animals like tigers and elephants has threatened extinction of these species and alarmed the conscious citizens, if not the departmental authorities. Lack of Inter departmental coordination, conflicts and absence of assuming responsibility by the authorities are paid dearly by the wild animals. At least that is what could be summed up from the news recently flashed in a local daily. On 1st August 2010, three elephants were electrocuted in Orissa after allegedly coming in contact with an 11 KV wire. The fateful incident occurred near Durlavpur, a village under Telkoi forest range of Keonjhar district. The forest officials have pointed the finger at the electricity department for the deaths. Three engineers of NESCO were booked under various sections of the Wildlife Protection Act, a forest guard was suspended and the higher authorities stayed clean. We see that the officials, who provide forest clearance for diverting forest lands for non forest activities and other purposes like mining, do not assume responsibility for such incidents. This incident of electrocution of elephants and inter departmental conflict is not a fresh issue. On 7th May 2008, the Bamra Wildlife Division had lodged a case against WESCO authorities following deaths of two elephants due to electrocution. Sources tell us that in 2009 alone, 16 elephants were killed after coming in contact with high tension electricity wires. Among which there were 4 tuskers and 12 female elephants (including the pregnant ones).
Illegal poaching, loss of habitat and food scarcity have blurred the geographical boundaries between human and elephant habitats. During the period of 1990-2009, 698 elephants met their ends. Among these, 231 were killed by illegal poachers, 166 died due to accidents, 173 died due to natural reasons, 85 in various diseases and 43 elephants died due to unknown reasons. Within the last 19 years, more than 150 elephants were electrocuted. This is more than 24% of the total death toll. This is indicative of the irresponsibility and self conceited approach of the forest and wildlife authorities which is evident from the clean chit for diversion of forest land and elephant habitat to non forest activities/ mining etc.
After a major hue and cry for wild life conservation and enactment of wildlife protection Act in 1972, for the first time census for elephants was conducted in the year 1979. In Orissa 2044 elephants were identified and recorded in the census. Surveys conducted in the following years reveal that there were 1827 elephants in 1999, 1841 in 2002, 1862 in 2003 and the present year (2010) takes the statistics to 1886. Both the Centre and State governments have been regularly providing funds for the protection and conservation of elephants. During the period 2003-09, Orissa has received 959.49 lakh rupees from the Centre. In a year, the State spends nearly 137 lakh rupees towards the purpose. But all this expenditure did not yield the desired output. During the period 1999-2010, the total population of elephants increased only by 59 in numbers. Again, this is an official estimate.
The modern paradigms of development have also contributed to the declining population of elephants. Official records reveal that, from the total geographical area of Orissa, 37.34% is covered by forests. In 11.4 % of the total forest cover, there are 18 sanctuaries and 2 national parks. In Orissa, there are 5 Elephant Reserves for the conservation of elephants. In the Reserve areas, there are 21 State Elephant 
Corridors and 4 intrastate corridors. On one hand, the State government is spending huge sums on protection and conservation of elephants, and in other hand, in the identified habitats of elephants, and in the areas of elephant corridors, structures like mines, industries, dams, canals, railway lines, state and national roadways are being erected. Rengali dam, Joda, Banspal and Badbil areas of Keonjhar district and Satkoshia-Baispalli and Chhendipada-Durgapur areas of Anugul district can be cited as examples whereby the mining and other industrial activities are carried on in areas of elephant corridors. The elephant corridor and habitat in Shimilipal-Hadgarh-Kuladiha sanctuary are currently at stake due to Chromite mining.
Human-elephant conflicts are experienced mainly in places where the habitat of the later is invaded. In these conflicts, from 1995-96 to 2008-09, 509 people died and 136 suffered injuries. During this period crop loss in 32902.358 hectare land and damage to 4975 houses were also recorded. On an average, each year 21 elephants were killed. Even huge revenue from the treasury of Government of Odisha is being spent every year in this purpose. For this the government blames the people and elephants, too. The government should be aware about the issue and assume its responsibilities before it is too late. Otherwise the state once known as the kingdom of the ‘king of elephants’ (Gajapati) will lose its relevance and elephants will only be found in zoos of our state.
The End.
