New Delhi:
India is home to almost one-sixth of the world's elephants. However, over the years, conflict between man and elephant has increased. The elephant population is suffering due to shrinking habitats and loss of the traditional migratory routes taken by elephant herds.
The elephant task force set up by the Environment Ministry has recommended a National Elephant Conservation Authority on the lines of National Tiger Conservation Authority.
Some of the key recommendations include:
- Protect 88 elephant corridors from mining, irrigation and other industrial projects.
- The 32 elephant reserves in the country to be designated as ecologically sensitive areas so that they can get greater protection under the Environment Protection Act.
- A conflict management task force with foresters, scientists and veterinarians should be set up in high conflict areas.
Though it is still only a proposal but it is a radical one. If adopted, it could pit the environment lobby against the industrial lobby in new areas.
While elephant numbers are not critical, it's the skewed sex ratio that has conservationists worried with years of poaching leaving only 2000 odd tuskers in a population of 25,000.
"We are getting in Orissa, Chhattisgarh and in Jharkhand a lot of new proposals for mining projects that impinge on elephant corridors. We have to look at elephant corridors very seriously," said Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh.
The task force has recognised the role elephants play in our culture as well as how they symbolise ecological security and has asked they be declared national heritage animals.