Forest Dept holds review meet on how to reduce man-animal conflicts
If the plan of the forest department comes into action the tusker corridor in the Dalma Sanctuary — connecting Jharkhand to Bengal — will see a new and improved beginning in the movement of the elephants.
The senior forest officials brainstormed during the inter-State co-ordination meeting of chief wildlife wardens to reduce man-animal conflicts and wildlife crimes at the forest guest house in Mango district on Wednesday.
Jharkhand’s principal chief conservator of forests (PCCF) DK Srivastava, along with his Bengal counterpart Ujjwal Bhattacharya participated in a storming session on how to prevent man-animal conflict and minimise wildlife crime. The event was organised by State department of forest and environment. Forest representatives from Odisha and Chhatisgarh also participated in it.
Senior forest officials from Jharkhand, including regional chief conservator of forests (Singhbhum) KK Chatterjee, conservators of Ranchi, Chaibasa and Jamshedpur as well as divisional forest officers were also present at the meeting. DFOs of Kharagpur, Baripada, Rairangpur, Balasore and other district also attending the proceedings.
“We want to ensure better arrangements for elephant habitat, and steps are to be initiated on uniting inter-State corridors and the migration pattern of elephants,” Srivastava said while addressing a Press meet.
The State forest department has identified several points that are crucial for the easy movement and sustainable living of the elephants in the Dalma sanctuary and, the prominent among them are constructing newer water bodies, solar fencing of the forest area and protection of the green cover in letter and spirit especially, on the Jharkhand-Bengal stretch.
Another officer noted that the forest area is clandestinely being encroached by the real estate players across the country which in affect is posing threat to the survival of the forest animals.
On an average 75 elephants are in the Dalma forest range spreading across the three districts of the Kolhan division but they are migratory and are available in thick numbers.
He added that a study on the claims of Bengal and Odisha who hold that some migratory elephants from Dalma wildlife sanctuary were not returning home will be carried. This topic was raised during the meeting. Poulation of Dalma elephant is intact. It is a matter of research.