Outrage over elephant’s electrocution and illegal burial at Numaligarh Refinery
Outrage over elephant’s electrocution and illegal burial at Numaligarh
Refinery
Hub Network
July 22, 2024
See link
https://hubnetwork.in/outrage-over-elephants-electrocution-and-illegal-burial-at-numaligarh-refinery/
for photo.
Northeast’s premier biodiversity organization, Aaranyak on Monday expressed
its deep concern and outrage regarding the recent incident involving the
death of a female wild elephant inside the Numaligarh Refinery Ltd campus
in Golaghat district of Assam.
Aaranyak, a member of the State Board of Wildlife, Assam and former member
of the National Board of Wildlife, said the tragic event, which occurred on
July 18, is a stark reminder of the ongoing threats faced by elephants in
their natural habitat, particularly in the Golaghat district, which is part
of a critical elephant corridor.
“Reports indicate that the elephant died due to suspected electrocution
after coming into contact with an exposed power cable within the Butterfly
Park adjacent to the refinery. What is even more shocking is the refinery
authorities buried the elephant without notifying the forest department, in
gross violation of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 as amended in
2022,”said Dr Bibhuti P Lahkar, Head of Elephant Research and Conservation
Division, Aaranyak.
Lahkar said elephants that are classified as Schedule I animals under the
Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act 2022, and recognized as endangered
species, besides the National Heritage Animal in the country, deserve
the highest level of protection and respect. This incident raises serious
questions about the operational protocols of the Numaligarh Refinery
Limited, its intention and commitment towards welfare of wildlife.
“The illegal disposal of the elephant’s carcass not only undermines the
legal framework designed to protect endangered species but also reflects a
concerning disregard for the ecological integrity of the region. We, call
upon the authorities to take immediate action to address this situation,”
he said.
“We urge for an immediate filing of a complaint case against the Numaligarh
Refinery Limited for violation of Section 39 and Section 9 of Wildlife
(Protection) Amendment Act 2022. At the same time a thorough investigation
be instituted into the circumstances surrounding the elephant’s death and
the illegal burial to gather needed evidences related to complaint case,”
he said.
He also said the forest department needs to ensure accountability for those
responsible so as to deter such violations in future . It is essential to
implement stricter safety measures to protect wildlife, particularly in
Numaligarh Refinery campus.
“We also advocate for collaboration with local civil society organizations
to develop strategies that prioritize wildlife protection and habitat
preservation. Additionally, initiating awareness campaigns is crucial to
educate worker and authorities of industries about the importance of
wildlife conservation and their legal responsibilities in sensitive
ecological zones,” he further said.
“As stewards of the environment and wildlife, it is our collective
responsibility to ensure the protection of endangered species like
elephants, enlisted in Schedule-1 of the Wildlife (Protection) Amendment
Act, 2022. We hope that this incident serves as a catalyst for change and
reinforces the need for sustainable practices that respect both industrial
development and wildlife conservation,” he added.