Institute for Natural Resources Conservation, Education, Research and Training, (INCERT), Bangalore was founded in 2000 by Dr Yellappa Reddy, whose is now the chairman of Bangalore Environment Trust (BET). The leading researcher S. Sridhar is also a trustee of BET. A small note on both Dr Yellappa Reddy and S. Sridhar is at the end of the post
INCERT has been studying the man-elephant confrontation in and around Bannerghatta national Park since the mid-nineties. Its investigative report prepared under the aegis of Dr Yellappa Reddy is reproduced here with the permission of the author. It contains some basic facts about the park as well. No changes have been made to the original.
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The Elephant has been an integral part of our history, mythology, religion and culture. Since times immemorial, eloquent references are made in a number of ancient literatures of the subcontinent. Elephants have been embellished in rock carvings of Pallavas and Hoysalas. The imperial elephant stables of Emperor Akbar are believed to have housed 32,000 pachyderms. Their number during his son Jahangirs realm is said to have gone up to as much as 1,30,000!
The Asian elephants are presently spread over 13 countries. In terms of numbers - the existing population is between 34,000 to 54,000 and is declining alarmingly. The entire Asian elephant population is less than 10% of its African counterpart.
Reasons for decline include fragmentation and loss of habitats, isolation of groups, rampant poaching for ivory, man-elephant conflict and consequent death by electrocution or shooting by farmers.
Ratio of male to female elephant has reached an alarming 1:100 in some areas. Tuskers in their prime age are becoming fewer and fewer, since they are selectively targeted by the poachers. This is contributing to the deterioration in the quality of gene pool. Tamed elephants numbering around 2,500 rarely breed in captivity; a colossal waste of gene pool indeed.
The Study:
Deeply disturbed at the continuing and alarming decline of elephants in India in general and the escalating man-elephant confrontation at the Bannerghatta National Park area in particular, INCERT has taken up field studies to identify the problems facing the elephants at the Bannerghatta National Park area and find suitable solutions.
Some facts about Bannerghatta National Park:
Notified as a National Park vide Notification no AFD 61 FWL 74 dated 6/9/74.
Area 104. 27 Sq. Kms.
Mean Annual Rainfall 700 mm
Forest Types:
1) Southern Tropical Dry Deciduous Forest (5A) 8,427 ha
2) Southern Thorn Forests (6A/C1) 1,500 ha
3) South Indian Moist Deciduous Forests (3B) 500 ha
Water Resources:
There are 35 man-made tanks. (20 are perennial).
Human Presence:
There are six villages inside the park area with a population of about 2,200.
There are 236 villages in the surrounding areas with a total population of 47,200
Grazing:
Illegal grazing by approximately 7,500 heads of cattle, goat and sheep from the adjacent villages is a permanent feature. This is in violation of the Wild Life ( Preservation) Act of 1972.
Quarrying and Mining Activities:
There are more than 40 illegal quarries in and around the BNP, in violation of the Environment (Protection) Act of 1986. Any mining or quarrying activity within 25 km of the boundary of a National Park is banned under this act.
Elephant Census:
There were 56 elephants according to a census conducted by the forest dept. in 1993. Method used for the census was Stratified sample counts of unequal sized units.
Personnel:
The BNP has one ACF, five RFOs, four Foresters, One Asst. Vet. Surgeon, One Second Div. Asst., ten Guards, four watchers, four drivers, two Kavadis, 27 consolidated salary workers and 25 watchmen and two peons.
(Note: 23 consolidated salary workers have been relieved of their duties four months ago due to lack of funds (Order No. EST (1) CR : D:N:52:97-98 dated 14.2.2000).
Equipment:
Two fixed wireless sets, eleven walkie-talkie, four guns, one jeep and seven other vehicles (for safari) (most of the equipment are out of order and not in use at present).
Present Elephant Conservation Problems:-
1) BNP is like a vertically expanded amoeba with too many arms and sharply arching boundaries (see map).
2) Over 15 natural streams criss-cross the BNP borders at many places.
3) Most of the bordering areas have been encroached by farmers and boundary disputes are not easy to settle due to some survey numbers having lands which are more than 500 acres in extent; partly owned by the Govt and partly owned by farmers and quarry owners. The boundaries are loosely described and manipulated in the existing documents.
4) Naturally growing bamboos are the staple food for the elephants. They have been extensively cut and removed in recent years. The forest vegetation now comprises lantana, parthenium, prosopis, ziziphus sp and other vegetation not preferred by the elephants.
5) Over 7,500 heads of cattle, goat and sheep are daily brought by the villages of the 236 surrounding villages. They directly compete with the elephants for food.
6) The farmers grow crops such as paddy, ragi, sugarcane, coconut, papaya and horse-gram which attract the attention of the elephants.
7) Forest fires are rampant during summer and the present staff strength is inadequate to deal with this problem. A forest fire was fanning the areas around the Doddaragalli betta during March-April 2000.
8) More than 40 quarries are in operation in and around the BNP. The blasting activities are detrimental to the welfare of the elephants.
9) Illicit country made liquors are being manufactured in many places inside the National Park. There are a few instances of wild elephants drinking this killer brew and getting intoxicated. The death of an young elephant last year, is attributed to this.
Plans of the Forest Department:
1) Digging elephant proof trenches:- The department has dug elephant proof trenches along the borders of the BNP. In most cases the trenches have been filled up by the villagers for taking the cattle, goats and sheep regularly into the BNP for grazing. The elephants are using the same filled up areas for coming out of the forests to feed on the crops of the surrounding agricultural fields.
2) Fixing used railway tracks as a strong barricade:The Department is also planning to fix used railway tracks all along the boundaries of the BNP to effectively control the elephants from coming out of the forest. This is also not feasible. In the first place boundary disputes are yet to be settled. Fixing the railing across the 15 or so natural streams is not an easy task. The BNP is like an expanded amoeba with too many arms and sharply arching boundaries (see map). Many roads are being utilised by the villagers of the six villages which are inside the forest and the quarry operators are also using these roads to bring in their lorries. In the absence of effective vigilance the railings will be prone to plunder by anti social elements.
Supreme Court Directions given a quietus?
The Supreme Court had ordered that sufficient budgetary provisions be made for preservation of biodiversity and protection of wildlife. They had also ordered that the forest guards in the Sanctuaries and National Parks are provided modern arms/communication facilities viz wireless sets and other necessary equipment in that regard. Necessary steps for that purpose ought to have been taken within six months.
On the contrary and in violation of the Supreme Courts directive, the Forest department has relieved 23 employees of the Bannerghatta National Park, last month due to lack of funds. Inspite of the clear direction of the Apex Court in August 1997, to provide modern arms/communication facilities viz wireless sets and other necessary equipment to the forest guards, no effort has been made to provide the essential gadgets even after a lapse of two and half years.
The Supreme Court, in December 1996 had directed cessation of all non-forest activities in all the forests. But inspite of public outcry and media debate, several illegal quarries are operating in and around the Bannerghatta National Park. No sincere effort has been made by the authorities to curb these illegal activities even after a lapse of three and half years from the date of the Supreme Court Order.
The Supreme Court had directed the State Govt. not to remove any trees, grasses, etc. However large scale removal of bamboo clumps from BNP has resulted in the ecological deprivation of the staple food for the wild elephants in BNP.
The above directions of the Supreme Court are very clear and the State Govt ought to have implemented the orders of the Apex court in right earnest in letter and spirit.
However, there is no evidence of tangible or discernible steps taken by the State Govt to implement the Supreme Court orders till date.
We have time and again represented to the forest authorities about these issues and appealed to them to take a comprehensive and pragmatic field-oriented measures to tackle the situation with a very firm hand. But unfortunately the authorities continue to be casual, indifferent and uninterested in adopting suitable and effective remedies.
Already extinct in five states in India
If no solution is found quickly enough there may not be any need to look for solutions, since the present causative factors are themselves enough to annihilate the last herd of pachyderms from the Bannerghatta National Park in the near future. It is no alarmist view but a sober and real assessment of the situation which calls for dramatic measures to preserve this species. In less than hundred years elephants have become extinct in Punjab, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh on account of similar causative factors remaining un-mitigated.
Dr. Martin Luther King had once said "The ultimate measure of persons is not where they stand at times of comfort and convenience, but where they stand at times of challenge and controversy." Here is a good opportunity to exhibit our resolute commitment to save the wild elephants of Bannerghatta amidst stiff challenges and controversies.
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A small note on Dr Yellapa Reddy:
DR Yellapa Reddy retired as PCCF (Forests) and Secretary to Government of Karnataka. He served as the Secretary to the Department of Ecology and Environment from 1992 to 1995. The Karnataka High Court nominated him as a Conciliator in the High court Lok Adalat. He is also a visiting professor in the National Law School of India university, Bangalore.Has been involved in various environmental concerns for the past 50 years in Bangalore.
A small Note on S. Sridhar:
Was an Associate of the Royal Photographic Society. A noted bird photographer and publisher of “Newsletter for Birdwatchers”
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