Asian Elephants are the majestic giants of the Indian subcontinent, and they also hold the esteemed title of Heritage Animal in India. Regrettably, their existence is threatened, as they are classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. These herbivores thrive in habitats adorned with a blend of grasses, low woody plants, and trees, playing a vital role in maintaining ecosystem balance.
The Sonitpur - Kameng Elephant Reserve, spanning Sonitpur and Biswanath Districts of Assam and Papum Pare District, East Kameng and West Kameng districts of Arunachal Pradesh in the eastern Himalayas houses a good percentage of the global Asian Elephant population. However, the once lush green cover of the elephant reserve has dwindled in recent decades, resulting in the loss of their habitat. The last left forests are now severely fragmented. As such the north and south of Nasbor has a minimum forest cover, while human settlements occupy the middle, inevitably leading to conflicts between humans and elephants. Notably, Arunachali obstruction in the northern part of Papum district has disrupted the elephant corridor, forcing elephants into the southern part of Sonitpur, causing havoc in Kaziranga National Park's 6th edition.
With rampant deforestation, nearly all forests are destroyed, leaving elephants to forage in paddy fields out of desperation. Assam has witnessed a significant loss of lowland semi-evergreen forests, exacerbating the situation. From 1991 to 1999, Northeast India lost 1802 sq.km of elephant range, and only 22% of elephant habitat is protected as wildlife sanctuaries and national parks.
The struggle for food and habitat prompts wild animals, including elephants, to encroach upon human settlements, sparking conflicts that result in the loss of both human and elephant lives. Crop and house damages compound the issue, and the illegal killing of elephants for meat poses an additional threat to their population.
Efforts to open blocked corridors, such as the one obstructed by Arunachal in Behali Wildlife Sanctuary, require urgent attention through collaborative discussions between governments. A joint approach with Arunachal Pradesh is essential to ensure the survival of elephants, preventing their journey toward extinction.
The grim reality is highlighted by the report from India's Environment Ministry, revealing the loss of 494 elephants to train accidents, electrocution, poaching, and poisoning over the past five years. Tragically, Sonitpur has become a hotspot for human-elephant conflicts, claiming 155 lives from 2001 to 2017.
The recent incident on 27/11/2023, where an innocent elephant was brutally killed in a train collision due to the lack of precautionary measures by the railway department, underscores the urgency for action. The insensitivity of the railway department and the failure to establish a control room for monitoring elephant movements are contributing factors.
The loss of an Asian Elephant, already endangered and a keystone species, carries significant weight during a time of sharp population decline. With 95% of the Asian elephant population lost in the last century, humanity faces the responsibility of conservation. It is disheartening to witness the decline of these magnificent creatures, and urgent measures are needed to reverse the course toward extinction.
(All views and opinion expressed in the article are the author’s own)