Lone jumbo alert to nip conflicts

TT, Jalpaiguri: The state forest department has prepared a dossier of solitary elephants in north and south Bengal after reports that such loner jumbos have partly caused man elephant conflicts in these zones.

In total, 79 loner elephants ­ 39 in south and 40 in north ­ have been identified with details like their physical appearances, behaviour and photographs, said department sources.

"Elephants alone are more aggressive and violent. In a number of recent incidents where there had been loss of property and people lost lives, it has been found that such solidary animals are responsible for such incidents. That is why information about these elephants has been collected and a comprehensive dossier prepared," said a senior forest official.

The dossier, he said, would be circulated to officers posted in beat and range offices.

"If they spot any of these elephants, they can alert residents and visitors. Once an alert is sounded, it would held mitigate elephant depredation and losses," the official said.

In north Bengal, there are 10 such elephants in Kurseong forest division, 11 in Baikunthapur, 10 in Gorumara wildlife division and nine in the Buxa Tiger Reserve.

"In recent times, we are facing another problem. Once an elephant or a herd is spotted, a section of people start clicking photos without thinking of their own safety. In recent times, there had been a number of incidents when elephants have charged at such people and killed some," said a forest official in Gorumara.

On Monday, Chonkhey Oraon 43, a resident of Washabarie Tea Estate in the Dooars, died after he lifted and hurled down on the ground by WILD WARNING an elephant. Sources said aherd had moved into the garden and Chonkhey was clicking photos. He moved closer to the herd and one of the animals attacked him.

Last year, a private security guard was killed by an elephant in Lataguri as he moved close to the animal to take a photo. "This practice has to be stopped. We feel the dossier would help us inform people in case any of these loners is spotted in the area," said Joydip Kundu, a member of the state's wildlife advisory committee.