There is a huge pachyderm population at the Dudhwa National Park which has been sighted and which is fast becoming a permanent population of Dudhwa. Higher authorities at the Dudhwa National Park while talking to “The Pioneer” on Tuesday said that with the new population of elephant they were chalking out plans of its management because this was a new addition to the already existing animal population at the Park.
Senior officials said that ninety odd elephants that were currently being sighted at the Banke Taal of the Dudhwa National Park have become almost permanent inhabitants of the Park. “This is a huge population of over ninety elephants most of which have been sighted at the Banke Taal of the Dudhwa National Park. For the past three years they have not moved back to Nepal which indicates that they are making this as their permanent home” said a senior official. He said that over fifty percent of the elephant herd consists of young ones which was a very healthy sign. “Fifty percent of the herd consists of young ones which means that the elephant herd finds this is as the perfect place for breeding which is another indication that the elephant population is beginning to settle here” he added.
The official said that with the elephants coming in Dudhwa the management has to chalk out a new plan as regards their management. “These huge number of elephants add a new dimension to the idea of managing them and we are working on a plan of how to manage the herd. This could be called a huge challenge” he said. Incidentally Dudhwa has 12 elephants which are used for the patrolling purpose at the Park. On being asked if they could use these elephants for their own domestic purposes, the official said that it was not possible. “There is a lot which goes into the training of these wild elephants and they can cause a lot of damage of property” he said. The official admitted that the elephants were one of the great attractions for the tourists. “The elephants are no doubt one of the great attraction for the tourists. These animals have stayed back in Dudhwa because there is plenty of water and food and also security since they lie in the protected areas” he said.
On being asked if the Nepal Earthquake was one reason why the animals had stayed back in this part of Uttar Pardesh as animals can sense danger, the official said that there was no correlation between the movement of these animals to Nepal and the earthquake. ”One cannot say there is a correlation between the occurrence of an earthquake and the movement of the animals. There are so many elephants from Katarniyaghat which have moved back to Nepal. However it is true that animals can sense natural disturbance” he pointed.
Meanwhile the official pointed out that Dudhwa closes for tourists on June 15. “Dudhwa closes for tourists on June 15 and will open on November 17. We are working on the plan of monsoon patrolling for the area which is a important ” he said. The official said that there has been good sighting of the King Cobra also at the Dudhwa National Park . “I have personally sighted the King Cobra and there ave been sightings of the reptile. It is rare sighting the King Cobra which can be sighted only after the rainy season and before winters when it hibernates. The reptile is very quick in its movement” he said. He said that the BNHS is currently carrying out a study on the Great Florican at Dudhwa. “The BNHS is carrying out a study on the Bengal Florican because of the presence of the bird is a sign of a healthy wetland. The Dudhwa National Park has a few Floricans” he said.