Raksha, S1, Vishakha, V2.
1-M.V.Sc Scholar, Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Science Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana, Punjab
2-B.V.Sc, M.Sc
Corresponding author’s email: raksha.sindhu@gmail.com
Elephas maximus or the Asian elephant refers to the elephants found in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. The elephants have always been a part of our mythologies and religious traditions. In Hinduism the elephants are worshipped as Ganesha, the elephant headed god and Buddha is seen as the reincarnation of the white elephant. However, these beliefs have not sufficed for the conservation of our elephants. Their numbers unfortunately have been rapidly declining. Elephant hunting mainly began during the British Raj. Thousands of elephants were killed during this period as the killing of elephants was symbolic of authority and strength. The species are classified under the Endangered list as there has been a severe decline in their numbers. The threat to these animals is not a recent phenomenon as they have been captured, tamed and used in warfare and labor for over 4000 years. But now, elephants face a major threat:
Human-animal conflict. Human-wildlife conflict as defined by World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) refers to the interaction between wild animals and humans, and the resultant negative impact on people, animals, resources, and habitats. It occurs due to multiplying human population’s overlap with established wildlife territory, creating competition for space and resources
Human-wildlife conflict can be attributed to the following:
1. Human population growth: The population in India is exploding and encroachment of forest lands is rampant. According to the 2017 census, India has about 27,312 wild Asian elephants which is the largest in the world, accounting for 55% of the species’ global population. They range in 29 Elephant Reserves spread over 10 elephant landscapes in 14 states, covering about 65,814 sq km of forests in northeast, central, north-west and south India. Elephant Reserves come under areas of human use and habitation and are not legally protected habitats unless they lie within existing Reserve Forests or the Protected Area network. Hence, human-elephant conflict is on the rise in India. Although there are other conflict species, elephants project out as they not only cause human fatalities, but also damage crops accounting for huge economic losses. Human-elephant conflict is mainly attributed to the ever-expanding human needs resulting in habitat destruction and fragmentation of the habitat.
2. Human activities: Livestock grazing in the forests result in decreased availability of palatable crops to the mega-herbivores like elephants. Thus, elephants attack farms which are easily available resources. Developmental activities like construction of hydroelectric projects, private tourist resorts, clearance of lands for mining and industries have resulted in submergence of nearby forest lands and fragmentation of habitats. Decrease in the forest area leads to scarce resources, such as water during the dry season or a drought. Animal populations often cannot be contained within conservation areas and thus encroach on human settlements.
Impact of Man-Elephant conflict:
1. Damage to crops: In India, it is estimated that elephants damage crops about 0.8 to 1 million ha annually which constitutes substantial part of agricultural output where smallholdings is very common. On average, this may amount to 15% of farming families’ annual produce. Thus, conflict is an issue about sustenance, for both people and elephant
2. Damage to food stores: Besides raiding standing crops, elephants also attempt to feed on harvested plants stored in granaries or in people’s homes by knocking down walls of mud or thatched houses.
3. Human death and injury: A study estimates that around 5,00,000 families are affected and around 400 humans and 100 elephants die in this conflict.
4. Damage to other property: According to a study elephants damage about 10,000 to 15,000 houses in India. Surprisingly, elephants too have developed a taste for alcohol. Elephants destroying local distilleries where alcohol is brewed and stored is commonly reported. This highlights the potential role of alcohol in initiating the conflict.
5. Other impact: Other than the economic damage, conflict also negatively impacts human life. Time spent on crop guarding can result in sleep loss, fatigue, poor school attendance, reduction in wage earnings, etc.
Thus, to reduce the conflicts proper mitigation should be followed. This article discusses some mitigation methods followed to reduce the conflict. The mitigation methods can range from simple, traditional methods used by villagers to modern, expensive technologies implemented by state agencies.
Mitigation methods followed:
1.Crop guarding is one of the easiest methods which can be followed. This involves farmers scaring away the elephants by constructing huts closer to the fields. By this, the farmers can
act immediately and there will be less economic loss. The method can be supplemented by making loud noises. Threatening vocals like that of a roaring tiger or an angry village mob have been known to frighten the elephants. The positive aspect of this method is that it gives a sense of empowerment to the farmers and is the cheapest and the most practical way of solving the human-elephant conflict temporarily. But this method can make elephants even more aggressive and it may result in death of farmers from elephants and vice versa.
2.Physical barriers like wiring and trenches can be constructed to keep the elephant away from the crop fields. Electric fencing, fencing using thorny plants, etc can be put around the crop fields. Trenching can also be done, but it is difficult to manage in heavy rainfall regions and also requires extensive labour. Electric fences per kilometre is reported to cost around US$3,000 to $3,700. Even though they are easier and cheaper to construct than elephant-proof trenches, electric fences are also more vulnerable to breakage. Electrocution by live wires is also on rise in India. But there are instances where elephants have successfully uprooted the wires.
3.Elephant translocation: Translocation in wildlife can be defined as the ‘deliberate and mediated movement of wild individuals or populations from one part of their range to another’. Translocation is one the important methods of mitigation in elephant conservation. When the animal is allowed to acclimatize to the new environment, it is called soft release. If the animal is released suddenly which is the case in trouble causing animals, it is called a hard release. But, unfortunately in India, success of translocation has not been commendable. There are instances where the translocated elephant returned back to its original habitat travelling hundreds of kilometres. Translocation is useful only when a large number of raiding elephants are removed. Current cost of capturing and translocating an elephant is around $2,000 and thus removing significant number of elephants will cost plenty.
4.Removal of problematic animals: Usually, aggressive males in ‘musth’ are known to cause habitual crop raiding, attacking of homes and human fatalities. Thus, identifying that particular animal and removing it from that area might reduce the conflict. These animals can later be domesticated and be used in conservation programmes. But this method can pose a risk to the individuals involved in capturing the animal.
5.Compensation schemes and Insurance: Insurance scheme will encourage the farmers to peacefully co-exist with elephants. But in the long term this may not provide a permanent solution. This may also lead to problems like over claiming, false claiming, fraudulent practices etc. Thus, insurance schemes will make more harm than good.
6.Land use planning and elephant corridors: Elephant corridors are narrow strips of land that allow elephants to move from one habitat patch to another. Recent study in 2017 by a Delhi-based non-profit, Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), in collaboration with “Project Elephant” and UK-based non-profit “Elephant Family”, has identified 101 elephant corridors in India which has gone up from 88 corridors. Human settlements around the corridors have resulted in fragmentation of their habitats and thus increasing their number. Developmental projects should be properly planned away from these elephant corridors and elephant habitats otherwise a conflict is expected to occur. This is easier said than done as only 12 .9 percentage of corridors are under forest cover and 2/3rd of them are affected by agricultural activities. Many non-governmental organizations and the national elephant corridor project are striving hard to conserve these corridors through active community participation by relocating the locals away from the corridor area and thus reducing the chances of conflict. Conservationists suggests that identifying these corridors and demarcating these corridors as State Elephant Corridors by state governments will legally protect them under appropriate sections of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, the Environment Protection Act, and other laws.
New physiological methods for mitigation:
1.Using contraceptives: A vaccine prepared out of glycoproteins of the Zona Pellucida (ZP) of pig oocytes acts as an antigen and results in the production of antibodies when injected in species including horses and elephants. This disrupts normal functions of zona pellucida thus preventing conception. It is considered as an ineffective method as a very large number of elephants have to immunized to achieve the result. Also, this requires three doses at an interval of 3weeks for prevention of conception in a year. Thus it is a tedious and expensive process.
2.Immunization against GnRH: Gonadotropin releasing hormone is a releasing hormone responsible for the release of Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) from the anterior pituitary. Immunization against GnRH in males have successfully proven to control aggression for 6-9months.
Indian railways have started ‘Plan Bee’ an innovative step to prevent elephants being hit by trains. The Railways installed 50 amplifying speaker systems which played the buzzing sound of bees near the railway tracks. Astonishingly, elephants are scared of bees and their buzzing sound. Thus, the sound from the speakers has successfully reduced the death toll of elephants due to train accidents.
Conclusion:
The above methods may help in mitigating the human-elephant conflict. Some of the mitigating methods like driving the elephants, culling the problematic animal are very unscientific and cruel and also do not provide any permanent solution. An instance where the supreme court ordered the Tamil Nadu government to seal 39 hotels and resorts constructed on an elephant corridor in the Nilgiri Hills in violation of law is appreciable and promises better future for these ‘Gentle giants’. But still, problems like increasing number of corridors, fragmentation of habitats due to human encroachment are on the rise. Only when people realize the importance of elephants and forests will we be able to successfully eradicate human-wildlife conflicts which still has a long way to go.
References
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https://www.wti.org.in/projects/right-of-passage/
https://www.sanctuaryasia.com/magazines/cover-story/6830-right-of-passage-elephant-corridors-of-india.html
https://www.businessinsider.in/indian-railways-introduce-buzzing-bees-to-keep-elephants-away-from-train-tracks/articleshow/70169025.cms
