Education of the rural people, especially children can play a big role in reducing elephant-human conflicts, said Dr C H Basappanavar, retired forest officer, speaking to Deccan Herald.
This aspect has been highlighted in his new book ‘Romancing the elephant’, co-authored by Dr K M Kaveriappa, Vice-Chancellor, Mangalore University. The book was released at a function at the Aranya Bhavan in the City on Saturday.
Elaborating, Basappanavar said that during his days as field director, Project Tiger, in the 80s, a 278-day long education programme for the rural people of Bandipur had had a visible impact.
This fact was emphasised on by Chiranjiv Singh, IAS (retd) who was present on the occasion, when he explained how the Swiss government on finding its forests gone embarked upon a 60-year plan. “Not a one or five year plan! The first step in this plan was to educate children on conservation. We need to look at our school text books to sensitise children.”
Average density
At present the number of elephants in the State are quite good with an average density of one for every sq km, said Kaveriappa. However, when viewed in sync with the worrying fact of shrinking forest cover, this number becomes a large one.
“You have islands with overcrowding elephants which is not good.”
Unless some measures are taken, human population pressure will take its toll on the elephant, added Kaveriappa. The book dwells on some of the steps that can mitigate the damage, he said.
“When you talk of the elephant-human conflict, there is no end to it. The elephant is sure to lose out. We can just put it off to a few hundred years more.”
Changing the cropping pattern, giving crop insurance, increasing waterholes and salt licks, protecting the corridors are some measures besides increasing protection which can help save the elephant for posterity, the two authors said.
Chiranjiv Singh made a strong case to increase the compensation amount paid for loss of life, damage. “With around 4-5 persons killed in Karnataka every year, there is no reason why the amount being paid can’t be increased. It will hardly be a few more lakhs and hardly make a dent on the State budget.”
Compensation
At present the compensation paid ranges between Rs 29,000 to Rs 45,000. He was also keen that the urgency of the elephant crisis be taken up by the Government.
“There is need for the same kind of attention for project Elephant as the Project Tiger enjoys,” he opined.
I M Vittala Murthy, IAS, Secretary, Tourism, Kannada and Culture, felt that, what was needed was a big picture with everyone working together and not at cross-purposes. PCCF Verma congratulated the authors.
