Elephant Behaviour Mapping: State begins elephant behaviour mapping to rein in errant jumbos |
Bhubaneswar: In a first in the state, the forest department’s wildlife wing has carried out elephant behaviour profiling so that errant and habitual attackers among tuskers can be tamed.
The profiling is likely to be completed by June 27 after which the identified tuskers will be tranquilised in phases and brought to the animal rescue centre. There will at least be 10 errant tuskers, which have the history of attacking humans and damaging properties in different parts of the state.The recent killing of three members of a family in elephant attack in Bargarh district made the department expedite the move to rein in errant elephants.
Susanta Nanda, principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife) said, the tuskers, which have been known to go berserk, attack humans and damage properties will be tranquilised and brought to temporary shelters to be built at those divisions, where such cases have been found to be more.
In divisions like Athgarh, Angul, Dhenkanal, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj, the errant untameable pachyderms will be darted and brought to the shelters. “Their behaviour will be studied further. Some elephants may be brought to the four rescue and training centres built at Chandaka wildlife sanctuary, Kapilash, Satkosia and Similipal tiger reserves,” Nanda said. The elephants, which can be re-wilded, may be released in the forests but with radio-collars around their necks so the department can track their movements, he added.
The recent state elephant census revealed that their population has gone up by 122 in past seven years with the total count being 2,098. In 2017, when the last census was conducted, the jumbo count in state’s forests was 1,976. The 2,098 elephants include 313 adult tuskers.
The profiling is likely to be completed by June 27 after which the identified tuskers will be tranquilised in phases and brought to the animal rescue centre. There will at least be 10 errant tuskers, which have the history of attacking humans and damaging properties in different parts of the state.The recent killing of three members of a family in elephant attack in Bargarh district made the department expedite the move to rein in errant elephants.
Susanta Nanda, principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife) said, the tuskers, which have been known to go berserk, attack humans and damage properties will be tranquilised and brought to temporary shelters to be built at those divisions, where such cases have been found to be more.
In divisions like Athgarh, Angul, Dhenkanal, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj, the errant untameable pachyderms will be darted and brought to the shelters. “Their behaviour will be studied further. Some elephants may be brought to the four rescue and training centres built at Chandaka wildlife sanctuary, Kapilash, Satkosia and Similipal tiger reserves,” Nanda said. The elephants, which can be re-wilded, may be released in the forests but with radio-collars around their necks so the department can track their movements, he added.
The recent state elephant census revealed that their population has gone up by 122 in past seven years with the total count being 2,098. In 2017, when the last census was conducted, the jumbo count in state’s forests was 1,976. The 2,098 elephants include 313 adult tuskers.
We also published the following articles recently
Tusker kills 50-year-old farmer near Kuppam
A 50-year-old man, Kanna Naik, was trampled to death by a lone tusker near the tri-state border at Kuppam. He was a resident of PMK Thanda and on his way to PMK Thanda from Diguva Thanda when the incident occurred.
A 50-year-old man, Kanna Naik, was trampled to death by a lone tusker near the tri-state border at Kuppam. He was a resident of PMK Thanda and on his way to PMK Thanda from Diguva Thanda when the incident occurred.
HC: Govt mustnt hesitate to act against errant contractors
The high court of Bombay at Goa addresses issues with Smart City Mission work in Panaji, emphasizing accountability from contractors. Citizens demand durable infrastructure and quality roads. Justices M S Karnik and Valmiki Menezes oversee the case.
The high court of Bombay at Goa addresses issues with Smart City Mission work in Panaji, emphasizing accountability from contractors. Citizens demand durable infrastructure and quality roads. Justices M S Karnik and Valmiki Menezes oversee the case.
