Govt revisiting elephant corridors, involving stakeholders: Min Yadav
Daily Pioneer
August 13, 2022
Human-elephant conflicts are on the rise due to "competition for
resources", with around 500 people in the country dying in elephant attacks
and 100 jumbos "killed in retaliation" annually. Similarly, at least 14
elephants were killed by poachers in 2020-21 compared to nine in the
previous year and seizures of ivory doubled in the same period.
Concerned at the alarming man-jumbo conflict, the Government is banking on
the role of the community in conserving wildlife.
Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said on Friday that to reach out
to the families of the victims affected by elephants, the Centre has
increased the ex-gratia from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 5 lakh. “To find a long-term
solution, we are revisiting the elephant corridors of the country and have
finished more than 50 per cent of the task involving key stakeholders in
this endeavour," he said at an event on the World Elephant Day celebrations
at the Periyar National Park in Kerala.
Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted, “On World Elephant Day,
reiterating our commitment to protect the elephant. You would be happy to
know that India houses about 60% of all Asian elephants. The number of
elephant reserves has risen in the last 8 years. I also laud all those
involved in protecting elephants.”
Noting that elephant conservation in the country has done remarkably well
despite many challenges, Yadav said India continues to be a leader in
ensuring protection to the largest mammal under the leadership of Prime
Minister Narendra Modi.
India has the largest and the most stable population of Asian elephants,
the minister said, adding that the country houses more than 60 per cent of
wild Asian elephants.
The population of elephants was 29,964 as recorded in the last elephant
census conducted in 2017, he said.
This has brought the total area under Elephant Reserves in India to about
76,508 sq km across 14 states of the country.
"I am very happy to share with you all that later today India is going to
witness the establishment of one more Elephant Reserve, the Agasthyamalai
in Tamil Nadu, adding another 1,197 sq km of Protected Area dedicated for
protection and conservation of elephants in India," said the Union
Environment Minister.
https://www.dailypioneer.com/2022/india/govt-revisiting-elephant-corridors--involving-stakeholders--min-yadav.html
Govt revisiting elephant corridors, involving stakeholders: Min Yadav
Daily Pioneer
August 13, 2022
Human-elephant conflicts are on the rise due to "competition for
resources", with around 500 people in the country dying in elephant attacks
and 100 jumbos "killed in retaliation" annually. Similarly, at least 14
elephants were killed by poachers in 2020-21 compared to nine in the
previous year and seizures of ivory doubled in the same period.
Concerned at the alarming man-jumbo conflict, the Government is banking on
the role of the community in conserving wildlife.
Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said on Friday that to reach out
to the families of the victims affected by elephants, the Centre has
increased the ex-gratia from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 5 lakh. “To find a long-term
solution, we are revisiting the elephant corridors of the country and have
finished more than 50 per cent of the task involving key stakeholders in
this endeavour," he said at an event on the World Elephant Day celebrations
at the Periyar National Park in Kerala.
Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted, “On World Elephant Day,
reiterating our commitment to protect the elephant. You would be happy to
know that India houses about 60% of all Asian elephants. The number of
elephant reserves has risen in the last 8 years. I also laud all those
involved in protecting elephants.”
Noting that elephant conservation in the country has done remarkably well
despite many challenges, Yadav said India continues to be a leader in
ensuring protection to the largest mammal under the leadership of Prime
Minister Narendra Modi.
India has the largest and the most stable population of Asian elephants,
the minister said, adding that the country houses more than 60 per cent of
wild Asian elephants.
The population of elephants was 29,964 as recorded in the last elephant
census conducted in 2017, he said.
This has brought the total area under Elephant Reserves in India to about
76,508 sq km across 14 states of the country.
"I am very happy to share with you all that later today India is going to
witness the establishment of one more Elephant Reserve, the Agasthyamalai
in Tamil Nadu, adding another 1,197 sq km of Protected Area dedicated for
protection and conservation of elephants in India," said the Union
Environment Minister.
https://www.dailypioneer.com/2022/india/govt-revisiting-elephant-corridors--involving-stakeholders--min-yadav.html