By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR: To mark the World Elephant Day, leading environment and wildlife body, “GROW with Nature” organized a 7 days Webinar Workshop on the Topic” Understanding and Protecting the Majestic National Heritge , The Elephant,”. The 7 days Workshop was moderated by Gayatri Devi. Wildlife Researcher, Founder and Chairman ‘GROW with Nature’.
The purpose of workshop was to create awareness on different issues related to elephants with special focus to Odisha scenario. Esteemed guests from different spheres of work like Forest department, Research organization, Social activity, Wildlife activity, Journalism and students participated and shared their valuable work experiences and suggestions in creating a harmonious co-existing world between man and elephants. The workshop was attended by viewers in thousands in numbers, from diffferent states of the country.
On day -1, the discussion was on the topic “UNDERSTANDING THE MAJESTIC PACHYDERM”. The honorable guest, Shri Ajay Kumar Jena, IFS. Retired Conservator of Forests, gave insight in to different type of elephants present across the globe and also in Indian sub-continent. He emphasised on better documentation of tribal knowledge in ameliorating man-elephant conflict. As quoted by him, now a days elephants are moving out of their usual path of movement. We need to find out and connect those paths. There is a need of proper co ordination between civil dept, electric dept, road and construction and railway dept., for better elephant safety. For better understanding the behavior of elephants, the Forest dept must facilitate the research projects and spell out its need so that real research can be carried out to give real solutions, to be used in man-animal conflict management strategies.
On day 2, in discussing on the topic “MANAGING MIGRATORY ELEPHANTS IN NILGIRI-BALASORE” Harsha Bardhan Udgata, DFO Mahanadi Wildlife Division, Nayagarh, gave a detail account of management strategies undertaken in managing the migratory elephants in about 120 in numbers, those travel from Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary, Jharkhand up to Nilgiri, Balasore , and the role and co-operation of public during the whole procedure. He opined that elephants are long ranging animals, they travel to the suitable habitat in search of food. During migration, they move peacefully, but create havoc, if they are disturbed by the mob. Hence crowd management plays a crucial part. He suggested the people not to keep any country liquor, fermented rice, rice bags inside the houses to avoid elephant attack. Changing in cropping pattern, use of light producing crackers inplace of sound producing ones, timely discussion and involvement of community, creating awareness among people, planting elephant fodder species in the jungles can decrease the instances of man-elephant conflict.
On day 3, the discussion was on the topic “CONSERVING ELEPHANTS IN ODISHA”. Guest speaker Dr. Debabrata Swain, Member, Lokayukta Odisha, elaborated the present status of the 14 identified elephant corridors in Odisha, the immediate need to restore their habitat and importance in establishing more umber of wildlife sanctuaries in connecting corridors. He emphasized on capacity building of villagers, farmers, increasing trained ACF/FRO, veterinary staff, tranquilization experts, radio collaring experts etc. and to furtherance the research activities on corridor studies and elephant census methodology. He also shared his concern and suggested of immediate management over decreasing male to female ratio in elephant population.
On day 4, in discussing on the topic “HUMAN ELEPHANT CONFLICT MITIGATION MEASURES” our guest speaker Dr. Arun Kumar Mishra, DFO Rairangpur elaborated on different site specific mitigation measures can be carried out like plantation of bamboo and Ficus plants, meadow creation, fodder species reintroduction, creation of water bodies, use of bio-acoustic machine, multi bang scare away cannon, conducting mock drill training to staff, capacity building to people, improving corridor habitat management practices and increasing number and variety of stakeholders to decrease the instances of conflict with elephants.
On day 5, discussing on the topic “HEALTH and WELLBEING OF LARGEST LAND MAMMAL,THE ELEPHANT” Dr. Niranjana Sahoo, Prof. and Head, Dept of Veterinary Epidemiology and Preventive Medicines elaborated on different diseases of wild and captive elephants and emphasized to keep our wild elephants stress free to keep them healthy and in well being. He advised of improving field level early detection, testing and diagnosis of the diseases to stop its further spread. Shri. Ajit Satapathy, DFO, Keonjhar Wildlife Division described different herd behavior of elephants and the need of people to understand and love this beautiful , intelligent mega herbivore. He also shared his experience of managing the Anthrax death cases in Similipal Tiger Reserve when he was the Deputy Director of STR.
On day- 6, the discussion was on the topic “MANAGEMENT OF DISTRESSED ELEPHANT”. Discussing on this Shri. Kamal Lochan Purohit, Retd. Deputy conservator of Forests gave an elaborative account of stress found in calf and adult elephants and gave case studies experiences of rescuing different wild elephants. Dr. Sarat Kumar Sahu, Veterinary Officer, Nandankanan Zoological Park, described the medical aid provided during rehabilitation procedures and advised the common people not to feed any rescued elephants by themselves. Shri. Rudra Prasanna Mahapatra, Regional Head of WTI projects in Odisha emphasized on the need of a well equipped rehabilitation centre in Odisha and gave light on “back to wild” concept in rescued elephants. He also stressed on studying the history of the rescued elephant before releasing them in the wild. Shri. Jiban Ballav Das , Founder Secretary PFA in Odisha opined of people co-operation during the rescue process and also stressed for earliest release of the rescued elephants.
On Valedictory day, the discussion was on the topic “ROLE OF PUBLIC IN PROTECTING THE NATIONAL HERITAGE”. Dr. Prakash Chandra Jena, Trustee Save Elephant Foundation, focused on need to aware people for better management of man-elephant conflict. Dinesh Das, Freelance journalist suggested to consult with local villagers and Van Surakshya Samiti during the appointment of elephant squad or watchers to garner confidence of the people. Vanoo Mitra Acharya, Ex.Honorary Wildlife Warden shared his field level experiences and too emphasized on timely receipt of compensation, to get people support during the time of need by the forest department. Samyak Samantara, DFO Khordha, explained the processes of timely grant of compensation to people affected by elephant depredation. He also emphasized on involving stakeholders in policy making processes, so that people will feel as a part of Govt. Talking with young students Master Amit Vikram and Miss Laasya J. Chitrakshi, Ajit Satapathy, DFO, Keonjhar Wildlife Division emhasised on building scientific based infrastructures in forest areas, with best mitigation measures, so that there will be eco-friendly development processes and we can leave a better legacy for our future generation.
(For Any Further Information..GROW With Nature can be reach at ,Gayatri Devi, Wildlife Researcher, Member IUCN Commission on Ecosystem Management, Wildlife Consultant, Founder and Chairman GROW with Nature, Plot no. 478D/1829, Kalinga Stadium squar,Near Indian oil Petrol Pump, Nayapalli Bhubaneswar, Khordha, Odisha, India, 751012, devigayatri27@gmail.com, 8658935894, 8763852037).
