Karnataka - Mysore   

Elephant deaths alarm forest officials

Shankar Bennur

14 unnatural deaths of elephants in the past five months

MYSORE: The alarming rise in the number of unnatural deaths of elephants in Kollegal wildlife division in the past five months has become a cause for concern, and perturbed wildlife managers are trying to pinpoint the cause of death.

Forest officials believe that a long dry spell, which dried up many water bodies, and contamination of water bodies could be the reason for the deaths.

When most of the water bodies dry up, wild animals, and domestic cattle from villages bordering the forests, congregate in large numbers in places where water is available. Hence, it is suspected that water bodies that attract cattle might have been contaminated causing infection among elephants.

Report expected

Scientists from the Institute of Animal Health and Veterinary Biologicals (IAHVB), Bangalore, have collected the viscera of the dead animals and water samples and will submit their report shortly.

In five months, there have been 16 elephant deaths. Among these, 14 were unnatural deaths and the remaining two were electrocuted, according to the officials.

Anthrax ruled out

Ruling out anthrax foot-and-mouth disease, they said that some of the elephants could have died because of fatal septicaemia and hepatitis. "Overall, the number of deaths is high, and it needs to be controlled by finding the exact causes."

Significantly, the number of elephants in the division has gone up because of better protection initiatives, such as a ban on quarrying around forest areas, and the suspension of Special Task Force operations after the brigand Veerappan was killed in an encounter. As a result the elephant habitat has improved, encouraging the animals to trek for long stretches.

"Elephants are sensitive animals. A small infection can be fatal. Water might have been contaminated since cattle from villages drink with elephants. The needle of suspicion is on water contamination, but will be confirmed after the IAHVB report," Forest Department sources said.

Study of water bodies

The wildlife division has taken up a study of water bodies and their conditions, including hygiene, water quality and holding capacity. The water bodies will be disinfected with lime and potassium permanganate. "The division is taking steps to prevent cattle from going near prime water bodies," the officials said.

Check on cattle

In fact, instances of cattle straying into the forests have come down in the past three years because of restrictions. Thousands of cattle from villages on the Tamil Nadu border used to stray into the forests.

Many cowsheds in the border villages have been removed, but local people still bring cattle into the jungles for grazing.

"We are planning to request people from the villages not to bring their cattle to certain water bodies in the interests of wildlife conservation," a senior forest official said.

Habitat improvement

The Kollegal wildlife division, which is bigger than the Bandipur National Park, has sent a proposal to the State Government seeking grants for the improvement of the elephant habitat in the division.

The measures include revival of water bodies, restrictions on cattle grazing, planting of grass in the villages for cattle and conservation of soil and moisture for improving productivity of biomass in the division, which falls in the rain shadow area.

Notably, there have been no elephant deaths for a fortnight, which, according to sources, is because of the recent rainfall. Any improvement in the elephant habitat would go a long way in their sustenance, they said.

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