By Arindam Ganguly, OP
Bhubaneswar: Odisha is taking a series of measures to minimise human-elephant conflict, including discussions with neighbouring states for facilitating elephant movement across state borders and exploring the deployment of trained ‘kumki’ elephants to help manage conflict situations, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) and Chief Wildlife Warden Prem Kumar Jha said Sunday.
Speaking to media persons during a Media Exposure Visit to Chandaka-Dampara Wildlife Sanctuary, Jha said the state is adopting multiple measures to reduce human-elephant conflict and improve elephant management.
He said discussions are being held with Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Chhattisgarh to facilitate the movement of elephants through their traditional routes and ensure that elephant corridors remain free from obstructions.
Jha also said Odisha is in talks with Karnataka to bring trained kumki elephants to the state. Kumki elephants are trained elephants used by forest departments to assist in the capture, control or management of wild elephants during human-elephant conflict situations.
On recent cases of elephant deaths and concerns over poaching and wildlife smuggling, Jha said elephant mortality cannot be attributed to poaching alone, as deaths occur due to several factors. He said the Special Task Force (STF) is conducting an inquiry into the orangutan smuggling case.
On the five orangutans currently housed at the Nandankanan Zoological Park, Jha said they are receiving proper care and treatment and will remain at the zoo for the next few months. Jha also said Chandaka, Similipal, Deomali and Mahendragiri have been identified for the development of adventure tourism, with the initiative aimed at showcasing Odisha’s natural landscapes while promoting greater engagement with the state’s forests and wildlife areas.
The PCCF made the remarks while interacting with media representatives during the media exposure visit to Chandaka-Dampara Wildlife Sanctuary, organised by the Wildlife Organisation, Odisha, ahead of the 72nd Wildlife Week celebrations. Sanath Kumar N, CF (Wildlife), was also present during the session.
Samyak Samantara, DCF (IT & GIS), briefed participants on the upcoming Wildlife Week celebrations, while Binod Acharya, DFO, Chandaka, briefed the media on the guided tour of the sanctuary.
Acharya said the preserved skeleton of Ramu, described as the largest male tusker in the Chandaka-Dampara Wildlife Sanctuary, will be inaugurated October 3. Ramu died in August 2024 at the age of 41.
