NGOs to act on wildlife deaths post Diwali

SNS, Siliguri, 23 October : At a time when the forest department is planning to involve non-government organizations in stopping man-animal conflict, which is on the rise in north Bengal, NGO members are not in the mood at present to start wildlife conservation campaigns due to the Diwali and other festivals.

Following the electrocution of four elephants in the Terai and the Dooars region this week, the forest department plans to rejuvenate the committee for wildlife conservation and protection with the help of NGOs and some departments concerned, including the police and the power department.

The activities of the committee have been discontinued in this region due to unknown reasons.

The committee usually goes into action after it gets reports on the deaths of wild animals, mainly elephants and leopards, in this region, sources said.

A leader of an NGO, Surya Kanta Banik, who works for wildlife protection in this region, said: “The death of elephants is unfortunate and we, the educated people, not the villagers are held responsible for that. After discontinuation of our campaign, as villagers are unable to prevent elephants and leopards from entering villages they commit such shocking crime.”

“I have discussed the matter with some other members but they are not in the mood to start campaigning because all are (even villagers) in a festive mood. We will start campaigning after Diwali,” Mr Banik said.

A senior forester said the death of elephants due to electrocution and poisoning is nothing new in this region.

“Several elephants died of electrocution in paddy fields over the past few years,” he said.