Alarming rise in death of wild elephants in Udalguri; 4 die in a month

TANGLA: The alarming rise of death of wild elephants have raised concerns among nature lovers and wildlife conservationists. In yet another incident, a 70 year old wild elephant (makhana) died in Udalguri district on Saturday. The physically ill wild elephant finally breathed its last on Saturday morning.

The pachyderm had been battling for its life for two days at Gamaribagan in Bhutiachang TE in Udalguri district. Sources said primary veterinary treatment didn’t yield any impact and the animal died this morning before the arrival of veterinary experts. The elephant was found lying on the ground at Gamaribagan village in Bhutiachang tea garden in Udalguri district on June 22. The wild Makhana had been unable to move or rise since the morning of June 23.

The elephant bore no injury marks and was apparently weak due to old age or illness. The lying elephant was escorted by four other wild elephants till its death. Dhansiri Forest Division, Udalguri, DFO, Dibakar Das, said that the elephant had been old enough to stand up on its own. According to him expert veterinary help was sought and Dr KK Sarma and Dr Daoharu Boro were supposed to attend to the animal for treatment.

“Continuous deaths of wild elephants in Udalguri district has been a serious concern. Already three elephant calves have died from falling in uncovered wells and tea garden ditches,” said wildlife activist Subit Sawra. Noted wildlife activist, Jayanta Kumar Das said, “This has been the time of migration of wild elephant herds from Bhutan hills to Assam plains since time immemorial. Wild elephants don’t migrate to Assam plains for food and shelter. There are enough sources of food and drinking water in Bhutan. They migrate to Assam following their natural pathways.”

He further said, “Elephants move around 600 to 700 km in a year. Human-elephants conflict occurs because age old elephant corridors have been blocked by human settlements. Government departments including forest department must prepare in advance so that protection and treatment could be given to visiting wild elephant herds in time. There seems to be no such provision or arrangements undertaken by the government for which the forest department can’t take necessary steps for the treatment of wild elephants or human beings affected. The deaths of four wild elephants in a month in a district speaks a volume of the lack of policies of the government to mitigate the issues pertaining to human and elephant conflict in the region.”

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