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Elephant
is an animal included in Schedule-I of the Wildlife (Protection)
Act, 1972. A complete ban on ivory trade was imposed in 1991.
Project Elephant was launched in February 1992 by Govt. of India
to consolidate the programmes for conservation of elephant and
its habitat. The Project seeks to address (a) the threats to the
survival of elephant in our country on account of loss of its
habitat, migration path and poaching for tusks; and (b) issues
arising out of elephant depredation in villages. Project Elephant
also seeks (i) to maintain an appropriate size of the population
in any habitat to safeguard it against extinction; and (ii) to
maintain genetic continuity of isolated populations, which are
otherwise susceptible to inbreeding. |
Project
Objectives
· To
conserve and protect elephant populations and to ensure that
any population
remains healthy and viable within its ecosystem.
· To
conserve and protect the habitat of the elephant, and to reverse
the deterioration
of these habitats.
· To
conserve, protect, and open up traditional migration corridors
linking the
different habitats.
· To
create conditions, through eco-development activities, welfare
measures
and mitigation of elephant depredation for nurturing the traditional
compassion and tolerance of the people living in and around
elephant
habitats.
· To
take concrete measures to protect the elephant from poaching
and other
threats.
·
To create viable mechanisms to ensure inter-state and inter
regional coordination
in protecting and conserving the elephant and its ranges.
· To
create infrastructure and facilities, including training of
manpower, for conservation
support activities,
veterinary care, humane methods of tranquilising
and translocation, etc.
· To
encourage, and create facilities for research related to the
ecological significance
of elephant and veterinary care of the animal.
·
To educate people about the ecological significance of conserving
the elephants
and to revive the historical reverence and compassion for elephants.
·
To devise strategies and programmes of providing alternative
source of livelihood to
craftsmen and communities adversely affected due to ban
on the trade of ivory products.
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Elephant
Reserve (ER) Network
"Because the elephant
requires much larger home range than any other terrestrial
animal, it is usually one of the first species to suffer
the consequences of habitat fragmentation and destruction."
Elephant Reserves offer hope to rejuvenate some of the fragmented
habitats.
In the state of Orissa, where many forests are shared by
the tiger and elephant, the establishment of ERs have raised
the hope to unify fragmented tiger habitats as well.
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Three Elephant Reserves (ERs)---
the Mayurbhanj ER, Mahanadi ER and Sambalpur ER were notified
in the State in the years 2001 and 2002 to define the prime
elephant habitats and to launch various management interventions
for conservation of elephant. The extent of notified and proposed
forest blocks in these three reserves is 4129 sq. km, and the
geographical area covered by these three reserves is 8509 sq.
km. In order to (a) include most of the remaining important
elephant habitats within ERs, (b) redress the problem of rising
number of cases of elephant depredation and (c) reverse the
trend of habitat fragmentation and degradation, it is proposed (year 2004)
(i) to expand the area of Mahanadi and Sambalpur ERs, and (ii)
to constitute new ERs called the Brahmani-Baitarani ER and South
Orissa ER. As per the proposed constitution of the ER-network the maximum
number of elephants will remain within the Reserves.
 Satkoshia
Elephant
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Mayurbhanj
ER
SIMILIPAL-KULDIHA-HADGARH ELEPHANT RESERVE (Constituted:
September 2001)
Location
State: Orissa
Districts: portions of Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Bhadrak and
Keonjhar
North: 21o10' to 22 o35' latitude
East: 85 o45' to 87o05' longitude
Approaches to the Reserve:
Southeast :Kuldiha (from Balasore 40km)
South :Hadgarh (from Bhadrak 40km)
West :Karanjia (from Keonjhar 50km)
North :Rairangpur (from Tatanagar (80km)
Northeast :Similipal (from Baripada (20km)
Area of the Reserve:
The Mayurbhanj ER comprises of the following areas.
Similipal Tiger Reserve: … 2750.00sq.km
Kuldiha Sanctuary: … 272.75sq.km
Hadgarh Sanctuary … 191.06sq.km
---------------- 3213.81sq km
Balance area including
RF, PF, VF, DPF and Revenue lands:3829.93sq.km
Total: 7043.74sq.km.
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Sambalpur
ER
BADRAMA-KHALASUNI ER (Proposed in 2004)
(First constituted: March 2002; Revision Proposed in March 2004)
[As per 2002 notification, Sambalpur ER included the entire area of Badrama Sanctuary and Khalasuni Sanctuary.]
Location
Districts of: Sambalpur, Sundargarh, , Jharsuguda, Sonepur
Forest Divisions: (Parts) of : Bamra (Wildlife), Bonai, Sambalpur
(N), Sambalpur (S),
Rairakhol.
Latitude: 200 5'N and 220 12'N
Longitude : 830 13'E and 840 58'E
Approaches to Sambalpur ER:
1. N.H.6 runs in the middle of the Elephant reserve.
2. NH 42 runs through the proposed extension.
3. Sambalpur-Rourkela State highway runs along the North-West and
Northern boundary of the elephant reserve.
4. Sambalpur Rly. Junction and Jharsuguda Rly. Junction on East
Coast Rly. are at a distance 30 and 25Kms. respectively from the
reserve boundary.
5. SH 10 runs on the Western and northern boundary of the proposed
extension.
Area of Sambalpur ER (as in 2004):
| Name of Division |
Area of Elephant Habitat
in Sq. km |
Area of Zone of Influence
in Sq.km. |
Total Area in Sq.km. |
|
Bamra WL |
573.27 |
1576.0197 |
2149.2897 |
|
Sambalpur (S) |
402.45 |
828.06 |
1230.51 |
|
Sambalpur (N) |
76.55 |
151.4200 |
227.97 |
|
Bonai |
693.56 |
295.54 |
989.10 |
|
Rairakhol |
813.54 |
436.4600 |
1250.00 |
|
Total |
2559.37 |
3287.4997 |
5846.8697 |
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Mahanadi
ER (Proposed in 2004)
(First constituted: March 2002; Revision Proposed in June 2004)
[As per 2002 constitution, the Mahanadi ER includes total area of Satkoshia Gorge Sanctuary (795.52sq.km);
Baisipalli Sanctuary (168.35sq.km); Hatidhara RF in Boudh District (63.89sq.km);
Makaraprasad RF in Nayagarh District (10.54sq.km)]
Location
Districts: Angul, Cuttack, Nayagarh, Kondhmal, Dhenkanal
Forest Divisions: Portions of Angul , Athagarh, Cuttack, Nayagarh,
Boudh and Dhenkanal, and entire Satkosia Wildlife Division, Mahanadi
Wildlife
Division and Athamallik Forest Division.
Latitude: North - 20º. 10´ to 21º.5´
Longitude: East: - 84º. 15´ to 85º.58´
Approaches to Mahanadi ER:
On the North-East-Hindol is approachable from Dhenkanal ( 60 Kms.)
On the North-Pampasar is approachable from Angul ( 30 Kms.)
On the South-West-Dhandatopa is approachable from Athamallik (
10 Kms.)
On the South-West-Charichhack is approachable from Boudh ( 40
Kms.)
On the South-Dasapalla is approachable from Nayagarh ( 40 Kms.)
On the South-East- Gania is approachable from Nayagarh ( 60 Kms.)
On the West- Kapilas is approachable from Dhenkanal( 30 Kms.)
On the East- Tangi is approachable from Cuttack ( 20 Kms)
Area of Mahanadi ER (as in 2004):
| Name
of the Division |
Elephant Habitat (RF, PRF) |
Zone of Influence |
Total |
| Satkosia Wildlife Division |
447.79 |
207.2 |
654.99 |
| Mahanadi Wildlife Division |
300.50 |
136.79 |
437.29 |
| Angul Division |
252.28 |
355.72 |
608.00 |
| Dhenkanal Division |
513.51 |
1333.16 |
1846.67 |
| Athagarh Division |
400.48 |
680.93 |
1081.41 |
| Athamallik Division |
538.39 |
1302.61 |
1841.00 |
| Boudh Division |
335.01 |
110.00 |
445.01 |
| Nayagarh Division |
299.00 |
708.35 |
1007.35 |
| Cuttack Division |
52.20 |
62.40 |
114.60 |
| Total |
3139.16 |
4897.16 |
8036.32 |
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Brahmani-Baitarani
(Proposed) ER
Location
Districts: Portions of Keonjhar, Sundargarh, Angul, and Dhenkanal
Dist.
Latitude North: 200 - 44' to 220 - 9'
Longitude East: 840 - 58' to 860 - 6'
Approaches to Brahmani-Baitarani ER:
On the East: Approachable from Kolkata along NH 6-350 Km.
On South East (Keonjhar): from Bhadrak/Panikoili on Kolkata-Chennai
NH 5- 120Km
On South: Daitary is approachable from Bhubaneswar- 130Km.
On West: Pallahada is approachable from Sambalpur by NH 6 - 150Km
On North-West: Barbil is approachable from Rourkela - 135 Km.
On South: Kamakhyanagar is approachable from BBSR via Dhenkanal--
120Km
On North: Approachable from Jamshed Pur,Keonjhar 170Km and Barbil
130 Km.
Major Rail Heads:Tata Nagar,Barbil,Rourkela,Bhadrak,JK Road.
Area of Brahmani-Baitarani ER:
|
Name
of Forest Division |
Area
of Elephant Habitat
(RF
and PRF) (Sq. km.) |
Area
of Zone of Influence (Other types of land) (Sq.km.) |
Total
Area of Elephant Reserve
(Sq.km) |
|
Keonjhar |
744.94 |
5803.06 |
6548 |
|
Dhenkanal |
400.78 |
1842.90 |
2243.68 |
|
Angul |
44.43 |
394.63 |
439.06 |
|
Bonai |
564.56 |
764.88 |
1329.44 |
|
Total |
1754.71 |
8805.47 |
10560.18 |
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South
Orissa (Proposed) ER
Location
State: Orissa
Districts: Ganjam, Gajapati, Kandhamal, Rayagada, Kalahandi.
Forest Divisions: Balliguda, Paralakhemundi, Ghumsur(North), Ghumsur(South), Phulbani, Boudh,Kalahandi North, Kalahandi
South and Rayagada.
Latitude: North - 19deg -10' to 20deg-54'
Longitude: East --- 82deg- 45' to 84deg -50'
Approaches to South-Orissa ER:
(i) In the South East the reserve can be approached from state highway
running in between Berhampur to Koraput via. Suki, Saluru.
(ii) In the East the reserve can be approached by state highway
running from Nayagarh to Bhanjanagar at Bhanjanagar.
(iii) In the West the reserve can be approached from state highway
running Bhawanipatna.
(iv) In the North the reserve can be approached by state highway
running from Nayagarh to Bolangir.
Area of South Orissa ER:
|
Name
of Division |
Elephant
Habitat (Sq. km) |
Zone
of Influence (Sq.km) |
Total
area of Elephant Reserve (Sq.km) |
|
Sanctuary |
RF+PRF |
Total |
|
Balliguda |
399.50
(Kotagarh) |
1898.18 |
2297.68 |
826.43 |
3124.11 |
|
Parlakhemundi |
174.95
(LakhariValley) |
1249.85 |
1424.81 |
830.00 |
2254.81 |
|
Ghumsur (N) |
0
|
729.00 |
729.00 |
425.00 |
1154.00 |
|
Ghumsur (S) |
0
|
199.00 |
199.00 |
148.00 |
347.00 |
|
Phulbani |
0
|
375.00 |
375.00 |
230.00 |
605.00 |
|
Boudh |
0
|
627.90 |
627.90 |
570.00 |
1197.90 |
|
Kalahandi
(S) |
175.5
(Karlapat) |
174.50 |
350.00 |
160.00 |
510.00 |
|
Kalahandi
(N) |
0 |
270.45 |
270.45 |
248.55 |
519.00 |
|
Rayagada |
0 |
162.00 |
162.00 |
78.00 |
240.00 |
|
Total |
749.95 |
5685.88 |
6435.84 |
3515.98 |
9951.82 |
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Elephant
Conservation Issues
The factors impinging on conservation of elephants in Orissa fall
under two distinct categories.
a. Activities like hunting for tusks and killing by villagers
in retaliation for depredation caused by single elephants or herds;
b. Diversion of forest lands, mainly for mining of forest land,
encroachment, and shifting cultivation leading to loss/ decline/fragmentation/degradation
of elephant habitat.
Strategy and Action Plan
(i) Constitution of 'Elephant Reserves' by including the contiguous
elephant habitats, ranges and the corridors between them.
(ii) Evolving appropriate management of the designated 'Elephant
Reserves' and other Elephant Habitats and conservation of the
traditional migratory paths.
(iii) Measures to minimise the problem of crop-raiding, house
damage and killing of humans.
(iv) Management of problem elephants or 'Problem Populations'
by means of capture/ translocation/ domestication and other methods.
(v) Adoption of 'Animal Welfare' measures. Domestication and use
of elephants for tourism, patrolling, etc have to be done carefully
without subjecting the elephant to undue stress and ensuring proper
upkeep and care of the animals. Methods of capturing have to be
humane. Emphasis to be laid on training of right type of mahouts.
(vi) Improvement of the quality and security of the life of the
human population who share any elephant habitat and its resources
for daily living.
(vii) Research on aspects of elephant conservation.
(viii) Education and awareness campaign
(ix) Setting up of veterinary units for medical attention to sick
elephants in each Elephant Reserve
(x) Training of mahouts and elephant managers
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Distribution
in Orissa
In Orissa elephants are not seen in ten districts, namely Puri,
Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapada, Bhadrakh, Koraput, Nabarangpur, Malakangiri,
Bargarh, Sonepur and Bolangir. Estimation of elephant population
is carried out periodically throughout Orissa. The estimation
was carried ou during 5th to 7th May 2002.
Table: Elephant Population in Orissa (May 2002)
| Sl No |
Division |
Male |
Female |
Calf
/
Unknown
Sex |
Total |
| 1
|
Angul
|
10
|
7
|
7
|
24
|
| 2
|
Athamalik
|
10
|
14
|
13
|
37
|
| 3
|
Athagad
|
19
|
98
|
39
|
158
|
| 4
|
Dhenkanal
|
14
|
45
|
22
|
81
|
| 5
|
Keonjhar
|
40
|
49
|
23
|
112
|
| 6
|
Satkosia Wl
|
17
|
43
|
95
|
155
|
| 7
|
Balliguda
|
9
|
14
|
9
|
32
|
| 8
|
Boudh
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
| 9
|
Ghumsur(N)
|
2
|
4
|
3
|
9
|
| 10
|
Ghumsur(S)
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
6
|
| 11
|
Nayagarh
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
| 12
|
Mahanadi Wl
|
4
|
10
|
11
|
25
|
| 13
|
Paralakhemundi
|
6
|
19
|
17
|
42
|
| 14
|
Puri
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
| 15
|
Phulbani
|
1
|
3
|
2
|
6
|
| 16
|
Bolangir
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
| 17
|
Jaypore
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
| 18
|
Kalahandi
|
19
|
34
|
8
|
61
|
| 19
|
Khariar
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
| 20
|
Raygada
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
| 21
|
Sunabeda Wl
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
| 22
|
Bamra
|
45
|
123
|
33
|
201
|
| 23
|
Bonai
|
15
|
40
|
27
|
82
|
| 24
|
Badrama Wl
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
| 25
|
Deogarh
|
2
|
7
|
0
|
9
|
| 26
|
Rairakhole
|
25
|
93
|
47
|
165
|
| 27
|
Sundargarh
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
| 28
|
Sambalpur
|
20
|
22
|
22
|
64
|
| 29
|
Chandaka Wl
|
13
|
30
|
19
|
62
|
| 30
|
Similipal
|
97
|
283
|
132
|
512
|
|
|
(Figures of Karanjia and
Baripada Division included) |
|
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|
|
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State Total |
370
|
940
|
531
|
1841
|
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Captive
elephants
The History of Orissa provides evidences about a rich tradition
of maintaining elephants in captivity. There are innumerable elephant
sculptures in temples and caves, and the Maharaja of Puri is known
as the "Gajapati". Maintaining captive elephants was
not possible in princely states after Indian-independence and
particularly after the introduction of 'privy purse' where the
princely states handed over most of their properties to the Government
and maintaining personal collection of elephants was no longer
necessary.
The changed scenario reflected on the families
of 'Mahouts' who mastered the skill of elephant-maintenance.
The mahouts have gradually vanished along with the disappearance
of the tradition of keeping elephants.
Captive elephants are now maintained only in
some of the 'camps' under State Wildlife Organisation. In Nandankanan
the elephants are used for joy rides by visitors. In Similipal,
however, the elephants are used by staff moving for habitat
or wildlife protection, when the roads get cut off in the rains
or where 'elephant power' is required to be deployed.
Table: Captive Elephants in Orissa during 2003
| Sl. No.
|
Place
|
Male
|
Female
|
Total
|
1 |
Nandankanan Biological Park
|
2 |
8 |
10 |
|
2 |
Similipal Sanctuary
|
3 |
2 |
5 |
| 3 |
Debrigarh Sanctuary
|
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
|
Total |
6 |
10 |
16
|
Table: Death
of Elephant
(1990-91 to 2002-03)
| Sl. No. |
Year |
Nature of death |
| |
|
Poaching |
Accident |
Natural |
Disease |
Reason not known |
Total |
| 1 |
1990-91 |
11 |
6 |
12 |
|
|
29 |
| 2 |
1991-92 |
11 |
2 |
6 |
|
|
19 |
| 3 |
1992-93 |
15 |
5 |
16 |
|
|
36 |
| 4 |
1993-94 |
13 |
7 |
18 |
|
|
38 |
| 5 |
1994-95 |
23 |
5 |
15 |
|
|
43 |
| 6 |
1995-96 |
19 |
7 |
17 |
|
|
43 |
| 7 |
1996-97 |
14 |
10 |
10 |
|
|
34 |
| 8 |
1997-98 |
13 |
5 |
19 |
|
|
37 |
| 9 |
1998-99 |
13 |
11 |
4 |
1 |
1 |
30 |
| 10 |
99-2000 |
10 |
6 |
5 |
2 |
1 |
24 |
| 11 |
2000-01 |
11 |
3 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
20 |
| 12 |
2001-02 |
10 |
7 |
2 |
4 |
1 |
24 |
| 13 |
2002-03 |
16 |
11 |
0 |
10 |
3 |
40 |
| 14 |
2003-04 |
9 |
15 |
1 |
18 |
4 |
47 |
| |
TOTAL
|
188 |
100 |
128 |
36 |
12 |
464 |
|
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Table:
Elephant Depredation
Number of cases of elephant depredation (1995-1996 to 2002-2003)
in Orissa along with amount of compassionate payment made in different
years:
| Sl.No. |
Year |
Human kill in
Nos. |
Human injury in
Nos. |
Crop damage in
Acre |
House damage in
Nos. |
Compassionate
amount paid in Rupees |
| 1 |
1995-96 |
30 |
1 |
1091.01 |
115 |
1019575 |
| 2 |
1996-97 |
6 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
70000 |
| 3 |
1997-98 |
15 |
1 |
1028.35 |
12 |
664464 |
| 4 |
1998-99 |
21 |
12 |
467.696 |
8 |
608139 |
| 5 |
99-2000 |
23 |
5 |
1999.624 |
262 |
1500000 |
| 6 |
2000-01 |
22 |
1 |
3187.69 |
5 |
1800000 |
| 7 |
2001-02 |
64 |
6 |
2823.824 |
1021 |
3006730 |
| 8 |
2002-03 |
66 |
7 |
4240.188 |
890 |
4103600 |
| 9 |
2003-04 |
12 |
1 |
3314.288 |
242 |
2451869 |
| |
TOTAL |
259 |
35 |
18152.67 |
2555 |
15224377 |
|
|
|
