Kaziranga model to save villagers from wild elephants

BAHRAICH: World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and UP forest department would now work in tandem to prevent destruction of crops and threat to human lives by elephants in villages adjoining Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary in the Terai region. For this purpose, anti-depredation squad (ADS) comprising of 20 members has been formed at Girjapuri near the sanctuary on the lines of Kaziranga National Park of Assam.

"Every year, crop worth crores of rupees is damaged by herds of wild elephants trudging through the farmlands towards the Nepal border in search of fodder. They also pose a serious threat to the lives of the villagers who dare to challenge them," said a forest department official.

Divisional forest officer (DFO) wildlife Ashish Tiwari told that

"Elephant rescue teams have been formed in Kaziranga National Park of Assam to stop the elephants from damaging the crops and entering villages. Tricks like chasing them away by lighting torches, bursting crackers and beating of empty drums is used by the team there. The DFO told that the torch, crackers and the tools used to explode the crackers are being distributed. He also told about the behavior of the elephants and the duties of the elephant rescue team which include monitoring the movement of elephants, informing the same to the forest officials and villagers.

The forest department provides information about the movement of wild elephants to the villagers from time to time. Besides, the villagers have also been trained and a crop rescue team has also been formed to save the crops.

The result of these efforts was seen on the September 2 at Hariharpur village when a herd of wild elephants had to return to the forest due to the alertness of the villagers.

The corridor of Indo-Nepal border is the main pathway for the wildlife. The wildlife of Berdia National Park of Nepal and other forests reach Katarniaghat through this pathway. The situation is similar with the Dudhwa National Park.

The wildlife, especially wild elephants, causes big damage to the crops and property in the villages adjoining the border. Recently, a group of 17 wild elephants reached Katarniaghat and destroyed six houses and spoiled the food grains kept in the houses and ruined the crops in the same village.

The wild elephants of Royal Berdia National Park of Nepal have been creating problems in the villages adjoining Katarniaghat and Dudhwa National Park for past several months which is a big concern for the forest department.

In view of the same, the WWF officers have started implementing the policies of Kajiranga National Park of Assam to prevent frequent damage by wildlife.

Since 2011, 50 cases of crop damage has led to the forest department paying Rs 8 lakh as compensation.