Fungus, not kodo millet, responsible for Bandhavgarh elephant deaths
Fungus, not kodo millet, responsible for Bandhavgarh elephant deaths
Manish Chandra Mishra, Mongabay
November 27, 2024
See link
https://india.mongabay.com/2024/11/fungus-not-kodo-millet-responsible-for-bandhavgarh-elephant-deaths/
for photos.
On October 29, a shocking incident unfolded in Madhya Pradesh’s Bandhavgarh
Tiger Reserve, located in Umaria district. An unusual behaviour was
reported from some elephants in the Khitauli and Pataur ranges in the west
and the north of the reserve, respectively. Thirteen elephants from a herd
were found unconscious at different locations. Officials from the forest
department rushed to the spot and initiated treatment, but 10 elephants
from the herd died within a few hours.
Adding to the tragedy, a week later, on November 8, a calf separated from
its herd was found unconscious in the Kharibadi Tola beat of the Panpatha
buffer zone in the north. The calf, too, succumbed during treatment on
November 10.
Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, known primarily for its tiger population, has
also become home to wild elephants in the recent years after elephants
migrated from the forests of neighbouring Chhattisgarh and have since
stayed in the region. The incident has raised concerns about elephant
safety and habitat management in the reserve.
Krishnamurthy L, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (APCCF)
Wildlife, stated that reports from three laboratories — two state
government labs and the Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI) under
the central government — have conclusively linked the elephant deaths to
fungal contamination.
The IVRI report, dated November 5, revealed the presence of cyclopiazonic
acid in the viscera samples of the deceased elephants. This toxin indicates
that the elephants had consumed large quantities of kodo, a variety of
millet, crop infected with the fungus, leading to their death. The findings
have heightened concerns about food sources and the safety of elephants in
the region.
Keeping Elephants Away From Kodo
The IVRI report has ruled out the presence of chemical poisoning in the
elephants. Tests for nitrate-nitrite, heavy metals, organophosphates,
organochlorines, pyrethroids, and carbamate pesticides turned out to be
negative, confirming the absence of any chemical toxins. This eliminates
the possibility of the elephants being poisoned or them consuming
pesticide-laden crops.
The report identifies a fungus on the kodo crop as the cause of death.
APCCF Krishnamurthy stated that IVRI has issued an advisory emphasising
awareness among village residents around the reserve, urging them not to
graze cattle in the fields with infected crops. These recommendations are
being implemented by the reserve’s management.
Speaking to Mongabay India, Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve’s Deputy Director
P.K. Varma explained the ongoing efforts to protect the elephants. “Our
immediate focus was on mapping and harvesting the kodo crop in the area.
This crop was planted across approximately 3,500 acres, and 99% of it has
now been harvested with the cooperation of local farmers,” he said.
Varma added that measures are being taken to monitor the elephants and keep
them away from any remaining kodo crop that is yet to be harvested. These
efforts aim to prevent further incidents and ensure the safety of the
elephant population in the reserve.
How the Nutritious Kodo Turned Toxic
Kodo, a significant kharif crop in Madhya Pradesh’s tribal-dominated
regions, holds an important place among millets such as jowar, bajra,
kutki, and sama. Rich in protein, fiber, calcium, iron, magnesium,
potassium, zinc, and vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, and folate, kodo is a staple
in the region.
Under the state’s Millet Mission, the cultivation of coarse grains is being
actively promoted, leading to a rapid increase in their cultivation area.
According to the State Agriculture Department, the area under kodo
cultivation expanded from 67,000 hectares in 2020-21 to 1.35 lakh hectares
in 2023-24. Millet crops, including kodo-kutki, jowar-bajra, and ragi, are
widely grown, especially in tribal districts like Mandla, Dindori, Shahdol,
Anuppur, Umaria and Chhindwara.
Forest department officials suggest that the recent elephant deaths in
Bandhavgarh may be linked to the increased availability of fungus-infected
kodo. “Kodo is always grown in this area, but its quantity was less in the
previous years. This time, elephants consumed kodo from fields spread over
12 acres cultivated collectively by four or five farmers. The large
quantity of fungus-contaminated kodo proved fatal for the elephants,”
explained Verma.
The incident highlights the need for close monitoring of crop health and
better management practices to prevent such tragedies in future.
No Poison in Kodo
After the death of elephants in Bandhavgarh, the kodo crop has come under
suspicion. However, experts believe that the crop is not toxic unless it is
contaminated. They suggest that the cause of the elephants’ deaths could be
a fungus growing on the kodo crop rather than the crop itself.
Scientific research on the toxicity of kodo is limited. Hariprasanna K.,
Principal Scientist at the Indian Institute of Millet Research under the
Indian Agricultural Research Institute, told Mongabay India in an email
interview that kodo millet as such doesn’t produce any toxin. “But the
fungal infection of grains takes place if not harvested at the right time
or there is more moisture in the grains at the time of harvest, and it is
not dried immediately. The fungal infection produces mycotoxin. Hence, if
the crop is harvested at the right maturity and properly dried immediately
and stored properly, there is no development of mycotoxin,” he said.
Mycotoxin can cause adverse impacts on humans and animals through
ingestion. According to a recent study published in the Journal of Food
Science and Technology, “Limited research on this aspect has concluded that
the toxicity is linked to the formation of mycotoxins caused by fungal
contamination. No study, to date, has indicated that kodo millet contains
any inherent toxicity.”
The Need for a Long-Term Solution
As an immediate solution, the forest department is advising kodo farmers to
harvest their crops on time. “Some farmers were unable to harvest their
crops on time, so we assisted them and ensured the crops were harvested.
For those who couldn’t remove the crops from their fields, we provided
tractors,” said Verma.
However, Verma believes that a long-term solution requires a policy
decision. He adds that the state and central governments are aware of the
issue and are deliberating on plans for managing the kodo crop in the
coming year.
Anish Andheria, president of the Wildlife Conservation Trust, shared his
thoughts on potential solutions to the issue in an email interview with
Mongabay India. He said that, in the short term, farmers growing kodo
should be compensated with cash based on the market rate, after calculating
the prospective yields using last year’s produce. “This should be followed
by an awareness campaign in areas within the probable range of elephants in
and around Bandhavgarh,” he added.
As a long-term solution, he suggested, “Sustainable solutions can only be
achieved if the interests of both local communities and wildlife are given
the attention they deserve.” He further added, “I am not advocating for
electric fencing around kodo fields as a permanent solution. Elephants are
intelligent enough to breach such fences, and village residents often lack
the capacity to maintain them.”
Meanwhile, Hariprasanna shares that the proper management of kodo grains
after harvest can prevent the development of mycotoxins. “If the crop is
harvested at the right maturity and dried immediately and stored properly
there is no development of mycotoxin. In terms of human consumption, to my
knowledge, there have been no reports of lethality. However, mild symptoms
of kodo poisoning have been reported in the past,” he said.
Elephant-human Conflict Increases in MP
Madhya Pradesh, which is the leading state in the country in terms of tiger
population, has very few elephants. According to government data released
in 2019, there were only seven elephants in the state. Elephants typically
move from the forests of Chhattisgarh to Madhya Pradesh in search of food
and then return. However, in recent years, elephants from Chhattisgarh have
started staying in Madhya Pradesh, and the current estimated population of
elephants in the state is around 100.
Madhya Pradesh has limited experience in managing elephants. The first
recorded human-elephant conflict fatalities occurred in 2018, when two
people lost their lives. In 2020, the number of fatalities increased to
four, and in 2021, six people were killed in such conflicts, according to
forest department data.
Experts emphasise the importance of monitoring elephants for their
effective management. “The group of elephants is growing, and they are now
spreading across different areas. Elephants often come into villages to
forage, which leads to conflicts. Therefore, their monitoring is crucial,”
said Pushpendra Dwivedi, a local wildlife expert from Umaria. He has been
working with the local communities in the Bandhavgarh area for several
years.
“Village residents will need to be trained to provide information on
specific parameters, such as the elephants’ routes, their food sources, and
the size of the herd,” Dwivedi explained. “This will help track the
elephants’ movements and prevent conflicts.”
Andheria also emphasises the importance of surveillance. He said, “In the
medium- and long-term, the state will need to: a) build capacity among
frontline forest staff to monitor the ecology and movement of elephant
herds, while proactively addressing negative interactions between people
and elephants; b) set up Primary Response Teams (PRTs) with the help of
both women and men living in villages along elephant-bearing reserves and
corridors, and train them to prevent people from gathering around wild
elephants and to promptly inform the forest department about elephant
movements in and around their villages.”
He further added, “The state must also collaborate with the neighbouring
state of Chhattisgarh to address elephant-related issues in a coordinated
manner, as wild elephants have migrated into Madhya Pradesh from there.”
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav announced that the state will
adopt best practices from Karnataka, Kerala, and Assam for elephant
conservation. Officials from Madhya Pradesh will be sent to these states to
conduct a study on co-existence with elephants, ensuring that the
livelihoods of people in the buffer and core areas are not adversely
affected.
Yadav also mentioned that radio tracking will be implemented for elephants
that roam alone in the forest and become separated from their herds. He
also noted that the compensation for loss of life due to wild animal
attacks has been increased from Rs. 8 lakhs to Rs. 25 lakhs. Discussions
have been held with the Chhattisgarh government to exchange information
regarding the movement of elephant herds, ensure necessary vigilance, and
manage their presence, he said.
More than 100 elephants have permanently settled in the forests of Umaria
and Bandhavgarh. To manage them, the state plans to form volunteer groups
called Hathi Mitras, in which the residents of the villages track and
update elephant movements to create awareness.