It would be extremely difficult to locate a species of animal, in the Indian Subcontinent, that holds equal degrees of ecological and cultural importance, as the elephant. Their intelligence and high capacity to follow instruction have made them especially useful since ancient times. Elephants have been shown to exhibit traits that are similar to more advanced species of mammals such as apes, humans and dolphins. The animal is extremely sociable from a very young age while also showcasing complex social relationships amongst members of their own species. It is widely accepted that they share knowledge inter and intra generationally and additionally they have even been observed to participate in ritual worship.

Their utility has surpassed categorisation as they have found place as beasts of burden, in religious ceremonies, as a mode of transport and even as siege engines against fortified structures, in pre modern era warfare. However, their role as a keystone species in any ecosystem they inhabit is arguably the most important. Elephants are hailed as ecosystem engineers as they markedly transform the terrain due to their size and power, which works to make conditions more favourable for other species. Furthermore they are integral for propagation of flora as they are reliable vehicles for seed dispersion. Unfortunately, the African as well as the Asian elephant species have been facing threats from man-made factors that have caused a significant reduction in numbers. While the African bush and forest elephants are largely plagued by the scourge of poaching and wildlife trade; the Indian elephant has suffered primarily due to habitat loss. Human encroachment of the natural habitat of these animals has led to shrinkage as well as fragmentation. The encroachment is mostly a product of development policies of the administration as well as ignorant and careless expansion on the individual and societal front. Numerous highways and railway routes that pass through forests and elephant corridors worsen the problem by causing increased fragmentation as well as being responsible directly for deaths due to collision and human-wildlife conflict.

While fragmentation is a collective threat to the ecosystem it is especially detrimental to elephants as they tend to migrate long distances in search of food, water and mates. Elephant corridors are natural routes that the elephants have routinely and historically used to travel. Interference with the corridors exposes the animals to avoidable and unnecessary risks since it leads to loss of crucial areas where the elephants rest and feed. Consequently, if the corridors are compromised the elephants need to search for alternate routes and this deviation increases risk of human-wildlife conflict, which imposes danger upon all parties involved. Habitat loss and fragmentation of the habitat are not as apparent as poaching or wanton killing as the consequences are not as immediate or as visceral. Although this makes it difficult to quantify the chaos fragmentation brings, the threat is very real and should be appreciated as such. Moreover the loss of habitat has complex implications in the case of elephants as their psychological and emotional breadth is not entirely understood. The negative impacts of habitat encroachment are not just restricted to the animals, as the resultant human-wildlife conflict culminates in deaths of people, damage to property and crops, which makes the locals even more recalcitrant when it comes to conservation.

A few years ago, in 2020, a train struck and killed an elephant in Assam, which led to the Assam forest department seizing the engine of the train. More recently this year another elephant was killed by a train collision but the incident was not deemed serious as the incident did not take place on an elephant corridors. However, such an outlook creates an illusory and forced distinction when it should emphasised that caution must be exercised regardless of whether the area is a protected area or not. In Madhya Pradesh a speeding train plying through the Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary, caused the death of three tiger cubs much to the ire of the forest department. The forest officials of the state have rightfully demanded that the onus lies with the railway authorities to act reasonably and carefully. We would be remiss in failing to appreciate the role of the judiciary and the forest authorities in trying to secure safe passage of elephants through the corridors. The Madras High Court ordered the suspension and demolition of all commercial construction in the elephant corridors and earlier it had held that the animals held the right of passage, which was upheld by the Supreme Court as well in 2020. Such decisions are important in crystallising the rights of the animals as well as in declaring the intent of the judiciary to safeguard the interests of the ecosystem.

Although the path is not straightforward or easy, conscious effort must be made to move away from development projects and policies that interfere with fragile areas and risk not just the wildlife but also the local population.

 The writer is a Lawyer by profession. Views expressed are personal.