Projects to save Jharkhand elephants in limbo

Oct 8, 2007, 9:19 GMT

Ranchi, Oct 8 (IANS) Delays in launching projects to save Jharkhand's elephants have resulted in a steep decline in their numbers in the state.

Two years ago, 772 elephants roamed the jungles of Jharkhand. But a census in May 2007 found that only 622 elephants are left in the state.

While most of the tuskers fall prey to poachers, some get killed when they stray out of the jungles and are run over by trains or electrocuted. Sometimes irate villagers kill the animals after they destroy houses and crops.

About five years ago the Jharkhand forest department had proposed nearly half a dozen projects to the government to ensure that the elephants remain inside the forests and their confrontation with human beings ends.

The forest department had suggested measures like solar-powered fencing and digging of trenches near forest areas - but none of the planned projects saw the light of day for want of adequate funding.

Two years ago the forest department had floated a tender for installing solar-powered electric fencing around the forested area. Work on this project is proceeding at a slow pace.

'In the past we have completed solar fencing work in some areas. This year we have sent a fresh proposal to the government for further solar fencing. The proposal includes 35 km of fencing in Hazaribagh and Ranchi districts,' A.K. Singh, the principal chief conservator of forest (wildlife), told IANS.

But forest department sources claim that the solar fencing erected in the first phase was not executed properly and failed to prevent elephants from straying out of forest areas.

In 2002, the forest department had started digging trenches on the outer fringes of the forest areas. But this was stopped in 2003 for want of funds.

According to officials, more than 400 people have been killed and 700 injured in the last six years after being attacked by elephants.

© 2007 Indo-Asian News Service