The cause for the sudden escalation of the situation is clear: over the years, as the loss of forest habitat increased, the toll in terms of loss of standing crops and property by elephant herds grew proportionately. The five Reserve Forests (RF) located in the eastern part of Sonitpur district where the mass killings have been occurring have experienced systematic destruction. According to a forest department survey in 1999, the area under encroachment in the 189.74 sq. km. Balipara RF was over 70 per cent, in the 109 sq. km. Biswanath RF it was over 95 per cent, in the 73.35 sq. km. Naduar forest it was more than 43 per cent, in the 140 sq. km. Behali RF it was almost 43 per cent and in the large 241.07 sq. km. Charduar RF it was 55 per cent.
The land has been encroached on for agricultural purposes, with the fullest political connivance. In the last two years, the situation has only worsened. In some places, there is clear felling in broad daylight, right next to main roads and under the very noses of the administration. The government is well informed about the situation, but appears unwilling to do anything. Even more worrying is the fact that the state's present Forest Minister G.C. Langthasa recently announced that all encroachments in forest areas would be legalised!
Protests against elephant depredation have been a regular feature during the critical season - winter - for the last seven years, and despite the reasons (loss of habitat) being pointed out to the government, no efforts to resolve the problem were made.
When 20 elephants were poisoned in and around Nameri National Park and Naduar RF between July 3 and August 13, the police machinery refused to either identify or apprehend the culprits. This sent out a message suggesting that such actions would meet with no punishments in the future either. Consequently, within weeks, four more elephants were poisoned in Charduar RF and seven in Goroimari near the Tezpur airport. Interestingly, before the airport was established, Goroimari was a Reserve Forest.
The Government of Assam must be convinced to establish a collaborative anti-poaching strategy between the Police and Forest Departments. You can help by writing a letter asking for the protection of Assam's elephants and their forests.
