Imagine a serene area deep within the forest where elephants can feast on their favourite fruits, grass, bark, and bamboo and enjoy refreshing summer baths in expansive ponds. This vision is set to be a reality for the elephants in West Bengal to keep them within the forest boundaries and prevent them from straying into human settlements. The state forest department will be creating ‘microhabitats’ inside 22 forest patches of South Bengal aimed at minimising man-animal conflict, crop loss, and loss of human and elephant lives.
The authorities have identified 22 such patches inside the forests of Bankura, Purulia, West Midnapore, and Jhargram districts to create the ‘microhabitats’ for wild elephants where saplings of Mahua, Mango, Bael, Ber, Neem, Bamboo, Sheeham, Bananas, and others, which are often foraged by elephants, will be planted.
According to S Kulandaivel, Chief Conservator of Forests, West Bengal, there needs to be less human intervention to drive away elephants, which sometimes jeopardizes the animal and microhabitats would serve as an excellent solution.
“They are technically called micro habitats. These 22 patches already have trees that are fed by the elephants. We will augment it. We will plant more trees and types of grass which elephants love. Work has been started in seven such areas, including three areas in Bankura district, two each in West Midnapore and Jhargram districts,” Kulandaivel told The Indian Express.
He said there are plans to dig up big ponds acting as water holes for elephant herds.
“It will take five years for the microhabitats to get fully developed. However, we expect to see elephant herds there within three years. It will be a win-win situation both for man and animal. Secondly, we will save human lives and money due to crop damage every year by elephants,” the officer said.
The forests of South Bengal currently have 180 wild elephants.
Citing the example of less man-elephant conflicts near the Barjora forest in Bankura, Kulandaivel pointed out that elephants there are not venturing into local human habitats as there are already seven ponds inside the forest.
“It will be a perfect habitat for elephants and we expect them to stay there and not move out to human habitats. Since elephants have sharp memories they are expected to move in every year where there is food and water for them,” Kulandaivel added.
State Forest Minister Birbaha Hansda said the government is taking all possible measures to keep elephants within the forest areas. “This is one such initiative. However, on the other hand, the people must be aware. Entering deep forest areas recklessly or panicking when elephants come into human localities must stop. We are also conducting awareness drives,” she told The Indian Express.
Incidents of man-animal conflicts are reported every year in the state, with elephants destroying crops and killing humans as they enter human habitats in search of food and water.
Last August, a pregnant elephant that had strayed into Jhargram town died after it was hit with a burning spear by ‘Hula Party’ meant to drive away elephants.
Early this month, an elephant got severely injured after villagers of Jalpaiguri district chased it with an earthmover.