Bhopal: Two senior officials from the Madhya Pradesh Forest Department have been suspended following the tragic deaths of ten elephants at the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve. Assistant Forest Conservator Fateh Singh Ninama and Field Director Gaurav Chaudhary were removed from their positions due to lapses in leadership and vigilance regarding elephant welfare.
The suspensions were prompted by allegations of inadequate responses and insufficient oversight during critical incidents concerning the elephants. Gaurav Chaudhary was criticized for not returning from leave promptly upon learning of the elephants’ deaths, while Fateh Singh Ninama faced scrutiny for his failure to take proactive measures despite prior sightings of elephants in distress.
Elephant protection efforts ramp up
The incident is not isolated. Last year, three employees from the tiger reserve were suspended for failing to report a dead elephant, which they attempted to conceal by burning the carcass. The situation came to light only after a photograph of the burning carcass circulated online, prompting a complaint from a wildlife activist.
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In response to the crisis, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has established a state-level elephant task force aimed at fostering coexistence between humans and elephants. This initiative includes creating “Elephant Friends” groups in various districts to promote harmonious relationships and prevent conflicts.
CM Yadav reveals strategy
Preventive measures announced by the chief minister involve the installation of solar fences to protect crops and initiatives to encourage farmers to adopt alternative livelihoods, such as agroforestry, to reduce crop damage. CM Yadav said that sustainable forest management to enhance community-wildlife interactions is important. The state government has also initiated talks with the Union Environment Minister for support in forest management and to adopt best practices from states renowned for effective elephant conservation.
Acknowledging the seriousness of the situation, Yadav expressed sorrow over the recent elephant deaths, calling them tragic yet avoidable. Preliminary investigations have ruled out pesticide exposure as a cause, but full post-mortem results are still pending. The government has increased compensation for human casualties in elephant encounters from Rs 8 lakh to Rs 25 lakh and plans to radio-tag solitary elephants for better monitoring and management.
