Bangladesh to introduce measures to save wild elephants
Sangbad Sangstha.Dhaka, New Age
June 21, 2022
Bangladesh Forest Department has decided to implement a project to save
wild elephants and minimise elephant-human conflicts as a number of wild
mammoths have been killed in recent years.
‘We have already formulated a Taka 50-crore project titled ‘Elephant
Conservation Project’ and sent it to the Planning Commission,’ Mollah
Rezaul Karim, conservator of Forests at Wildlife and Nature Conservation
Circle said.
He said that once the project gets clearance from the Planning Commission,
the Forest Department will start work for implementation of the project.
According to the project details, 1,400 hectares of orchards having plants
that elephants prefer to eat, 150 hectares of calamus palm garden and 250
hectares of bamboo garden will be created aiming to ensure safe habitat,
breeding and food security for elephants.
To ensure daily water demand of the wild elephants, 15 small-big water
bodies and 50 saltlicks will be built at their habitats.
About 100-kilometre solar-powered barred fence will be set up along with
the ecological boundaries of vulnerable forests and villages to minimise
human-elephant conflicts.
Besides, about 160-kilometre of ecological boundary bio-fencing with
calamus tenuis plants and lemon and Indian jujube trees will be established
to minimise human-elephant conflicts.
Anti-Depredation Squads will be formed at elephant reserves, while 68 new
Elephant Response Teams will be created and the existing 127 ERTs will
remain operational under the project.
Vests, shoes, shirts, pants, backpacks, caps, torchlight and gumboots will
be distributed among the members of ADSs and ERTs so that they can carry
out drives amid adverse environment to prevent human-elephant conflicts.
Some 90 RCC towers and 100 traditional tree towers will be set up to
monitor the movement of mammoths.
An elephant orphanage will be established to ensure safe shelter for baby,
sick and injured elephants, forest conservators said.
In cultivating the crops like ginger, turmeric, lemon, citrus fruits, chili
and pineapple that the elephants do not like, seeds and saplings will be
distributed among farmers, and they will be given training and financial
assistance too.
Elephant population estimation and habitat assessment survey will be
carried out to identify the present state of their habitats and number.
Computer and mobile-based apps will be developed to conduct research on the
mammoths.
Under the project, an ambassador will be appointed to create public opinion
on elephant conservation.
In addition, the areas prone to human-elephant conflicts and the families
vulnerable to elephant attacks will be identified.
Elephant conservation committees will be formed at national, divisional,
zila and upazila levels.
In Bangladesh, the highest number of wild elephants is found in the
Chittagong Hill Tracts apart from some in Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar Forest
Divisions, and Mymensingh and Sylhet areas.
Due to fragmentation of habitats, elephant ranges in Bangladesh have become
confined to small patches occupied by a single or few small herds.
Some corridors have been totally abandoned due to degradation of forest
cover, extension of human settlements, intensification of agricultural
practice, unsustainable slush and burn practice, unplanned road
construction and establishment of monoculture forests.
Due to the rise of wildlife crimes in recent years, around 34 elephants
were killed in 2021, according to unofficial data.
Rezaul Karim said that over 50 elephants were killed across the country in
the last five years.
https://www.newagebd.net/article/173886/bangladesh-to-introduce-measures-to-save-wild-elephants