Deterrent anti-poaching measures for Manas

Poaching of elephants in Manas National Park is a warning bell on the consequences of ignoring isolated incidents of poaching in the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Long-term conservation goals require proactive and preventive measures to keep poachers at bay. Assam Police making a breakthrough in the case within 48 hours, leading to the arrest of three suspects in the poaching incident and recovery of tusks, arms and ammunition, is laudable, but there is little room for complacency over the adequacy of anti-poaching measures in place in the national park. The conservation success story of the restoration of the park ecosystem and increasing its wildlife population, particularly rhinos, tigers and elephants, through the curbing of poachers cannot be missed. However, allowing complacency to set in poses a threat to the sustainability of the conservation success story. The incident calls for undertaking a comprehensive assessment of the anti-poaching measures to identify the critical gaps in terms of adequacy of strength of frontline staff and availability of modern gadgets and equipment for better surveillance and intelligence gathering. Taking expeditious action to bridge the gaps is crucial to foil any evil design by poachers to sabotage the conservation success. The conservation success in Manas also helped the Bodoland Territorial Council authorities to attract more tourists to the iconic tourism destination. Impressive and rising footfalls of domestic and foreign tourists have brought more revenue to the park. Inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 1985, the status of the national park was reduced in the nineties following a spurt in poaching and illegal logging and the dismantling of park infrastructure during the peak of insurgency in BTR areas, which led to alarming depletion of forest resources and wildlife population. Subsequently, the park was taken off the list of World Heritage Site in Danger in 2011 after a gradual return of peace and success in anti-poaching operations. Surrender of weapons and hunting tools by over 500 poachers and illegal wood cutters in BTR in 2021 sent a strong message against poaching and illegal logging in the biodiversity hotspot. Bodoland Territorial Council Chief Executive Member Pramod Boro has vowed to take strict action against those involved in poaching. Building awareness among the people in the fringe areas about the threat to rich biodiversity of Manas posed by poaching living in fringe villages is essential to motivate them to become the eyes and ears of frontline staff and forest guards in their relentless anti-poaching initiatives. Poaching does not happen in isolation, and illegal wood cutting also takes place simultaneously, as incidents of poaching expose gaps in the security of a national park or a wildlife sanctuary. Loss of forest cover due to illegal logging poses serious threats to water availability in fringe villages, as it leads to the destruction of vital ecosystems that support water sources feeding rivers, streams and other water sources in fringe areas. Mitigation and management of Human Elephant Conflict (HEC) in Manas and adjacent areas is crucial to thwart the evil game plan of poachers to take advantage of persisting HEC to poach elephants. Creating alternative livelihood avenues in addition to the installation of solar-powered fencing to mitigate HEC will help the forest authorities to motivate people in the fringe villages to strengthen community surveillance against poaching or any other suspicious activities so that they can alert the law enforcement agencies and park authorities. Manas landscape being transboundary in nature with connected ecosystems across the India-Bhutan border, joint initiatives by the two neighbouring countries are vital for the long-term conservation of this biodiversity hotspot. The cooperation between the two countries is also crucial for preventing poachers from using remote and inaccessible areas along the border for shelter and hideouts. Intensified and coordinated patrolling in Manas National Park and Royal Manas Park in Bhutan can be effective in preventing poaching in the landscape. The recovery of arms and ammunition from those arrested in the poaching case points towards the circulation of illegal weapons still circulating in BTR areas, which is a cause for grave concern. Due to isolated incidents of poaching, hunting in the national park areas along the international border, the threat of organised poaching looms large over the entire landscape. The assessment of security measures must be followed up with strengthening the anti-poaching measures, including the establishment of more anti-poaching camps, recruitment of more forest guards, etc. Imparting training to forest personnel on making a strong stand against poachers through proper documentation and incorporating strong penal provisions in the law is important to ensure that arrested poachers and their collaborators are not set free for want of any legal weakness in the cases against them. Use of DNA technology in establishing wildlife crime has become quite useful in investigations in wildlife trafficking. Forest authorities roping in wildlife and legal experts will go a long way in strengthening anti-poaching measures. Manas National Park needs a strong and deterrent action to curb poaching to sustain its conservation initiatives.