Proposal for elephant holding centre in Manyam dist unlikely to take off (Visakhapatnam)
Proposal for elephant holding centre in Manyam dist unlikely to take off
(Visakhapatnam)
Nalla Babu, Times of India
October 27, 2024
The ambitious proposal to establish an elephant rescue centre, also known
as an elephant holding centre, in the Parvathipuram Manyam district to
alleviate the escalating man-elephant conflict in the vicinity may not come
to fruition due to impediments in acquiring suitable land for the project.
With the increasing man-elephant conflict in Manyam district, the forest
department officers from Vizianagaram, Manyam and Srikakulam districts of
north Andhra Pradesh had visited India’s first elephant rescue centre
popular as the Elephant Conservation and Care Centre (ECCC) at Mathura in
Uttar Pradesh to study the centre and the possibilities to adopt and
establish such rescue centre in north Andhra region to mitigate the
man-animal conflict.
Presently, there are 11 elephants in two different locations in Manyam
district. More than a decade, a herd of elephants from neighbouring Odisha
forest migrated to AP forest location. These elephants are moving into
human habitation in search of food and water and eating away the crops
being raised by farmers. Worse, at times these jumbos are attacking the
villagers.
A senior officer with the forest department said at least 1,000 acres of
suitable land required for the proposed elephant holding centre. Though we
have visited various locations, we did not find the suitable location for
the proposed elephant holding centre, the officer added.
Parvathipuram Manyam District Forest Officer, GAP Prasuna said there are
two elephant herds roaming in Manyam district. One herd consisting of seven
elephants are roaming in Dibagudivalasa village under Parvathipuram mandal,
another herd consisting of four elephants is roaming near Jamiguda village
of Bahminimandal. Forest department requests everyone to maintain a
distance 300 mts radius from the elephant movement and social discipline
and strictly follow the instructions given by the Forest Department, she
added.
When the herd is present in your locality the villagers should not go to
farm fields as wild elephants can roam any part of the day. The forest
department requests village headmen, sarpanch, sachivalayam employees,
police department and all other departments help the forest department in
creating awareness among villagers. Forest department alone cannot handle
the crowd and the elephants at a time. Forest department will sensitize
people regarding do’s and don’ts in elephant roaming areas. If any person
is obstructing the Forest department in monitoring and anyone trying to go
near to the elephants will be severe punished as per law, she added.
The forest department observed people gathering in hundreds approaching to
visit the Elephants and offer food, these are wild animals we can’t predict
its behaviour. The forest department risking their lives to track these
mega herbivorous animals round the clock but we fail to protect villagers
if they don’t cooperate with the Forest officials, GAP Prasuna added.
People should understand that these wild animals are habituated to this
region, they are staying in revenue areas for the past five to six years.
It is not sole responsibility of the Forest Department to protect
villagers, the Revenue and Police department is requested to extend their
support in handling the mod at villages and implement Section 144 in the
villages wherever the Elephants are roaming.
The Karnataka govt has agreed to send Kumki elephants (trained captive
elephants) along with mahouts to AP to help it drive away wild elephants in
Manyam and Chittoor districts, the forest department officials added.