The depletion of ficus and other fodder species in the Corbett tiger reserve could pose a serious problem to the jumbos of Corbett and the humans living on the fringes of jungles frequented by the pachyderms.
According to the Corbett honourary warden Brijendra Singh, if fodder species are not planted now, elephants in their search for food outside protected forest areas would become increasingly involved in conflicts with humans. Taking cognisance of the situation, the Corbett authorities are planning to start plantation of ficus trees now.
Talking to The Pioneer, Singh said, “The depletion of fodder species for elephants is a problem that doesn't affect only the jumbos in Corbett. The situation is such that I consider the elephants living in the forests near Dehradun as doomed elephants because there is little space left for them to go to. The rising population of elephants in Uttarakhand could be detrimental for both the jumbos and the humans if steps are not taken to increase the presence of fodder species in the jungles. Apart from ficus we need to plant grasses, bamboo and Rohini (Mallotus phillippinensis) trees without further delay to ensure adequate fodder for the pachyderms within the forests,” he said.
The Kalagarh forest division in the Corbett tiger landscape in rich in bamboo while the lansdowne forest division also has some presence of bamboo but the presence of fodder species needs to be increased further.The population of elephants in Uttarakhand is increasing consistently but the presence of fodder species is not keeping pace with this population growth which would be detrimental for the jumbos and humans in the future and require drastic action if plantation is not undertaken now, added Singh.
According to the Corbett deputy director Saket Badola, 700 ficus trees are being procured from the department nursery in Haldwani for plantation in Corbett.“The number of ficus trees to be planted in the future will depend on their availability and other factors,” he added. There are more than 500 elephants in Corbett and hundreds more in other protected forest areas of the State, including Rajaji national park.