New Delhi: More than 500 people and 100 elephants die every year due to conflict with each other. This information was shared Monday by officials of the Environment Ministry. The figures were released at an event ahead of ‘World Elephant Day’ August 12. The officials said interactions between humans and elephants have been fatal for both. As per the last census conducted in 2017, India is home to 30,000 elephants.
Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar addressed the gathering virtually. He said elephant conservation is vital as it balances the ecosystem.
Elephants have to be kept in forests for which fodder and water augmentation programme has been initiated, Javadekar informed. He added that by next year results will start showing.
Union Minister of State for Environment Babul Supriyo also spoke on the occasion. He condemned the May 27 incident in Kerala wherein a pregnant elephant died after consuming a firecracker-filled pineapple.
“We must protect our elephants. The Kerala incident was inhuman and such criminal acts will be dealt with. The ministry and states have zero tolerance approach to such activities. I am sure exemplary punishment will be given to the culprit,” Supriyo said.
Additional Director General of Forests (Wildlife) Soumitra Dasgupta gave the figures of the man-elephant conflict. He said hundreds of elephants migrate and come in contact with human beings.
“More than 500 human and 100 elephant deaths take place each year due to the conflict. In last five years, the ministry has unleashed a series of activities for the conservation of elephants. More elephant corridors have been identified. Also the budget for elephant conservation has been increased by 30 per cent. Several committees have also been formed for protection of elephant,” said Dasgupta.
During the event, Javadekar also released a booklet on best practices of human-elephant conflict management. He also launched the national portal of project elephant which will have all the data and details of elephant movements.