David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation

The David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation ( DSWF ) has assisted in the relocation of an adult Asian elephant allegedly involved in conflict with humans in the Indian state of Uttarakhand located in the foothills of the Himalayas in northern India. Over 20 people have been killed by elephants in the area since 2008 and this 35-year-old tusker had been given a death sentence after claiming his fifth victim last month.

“Analysis of casualties revealed that most of the killings were accidental and as a result of people venturing inside the forest area or were on roads that are in an elephant corridor,” says WTI’s Dr Anil Kumar Singh, who has been working on human-elephant conflict mitigation for the past 18 years.

In a joint operation by the Uttarakhand Forest Department, the Wildlife Institute of India and the Wildlife Trust of India ( WTI ), DSWF provided funding through its Rapid Action Project to handle the urgent need for field experts to track the elephant.

“One of the keys to the success of the operation was the co-ordinated effort of various agencies,” says DVS Khati , Chief Conservator of Forests, Garhwal . “Realising the sensitivity of the situation, resources from across the country were mobilized. Three captive elephants and six mahouts were brought in from Corbett Tiger Reserve. Apart from experts from the Forest Department, WII and WTI , Dwipen Kalita an elephant specialist from Assam , and his mahout Rabha were flown in with the support of the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation.”

After darting the elephant, estimated to weigh four tonnes , he was loaded on a truck and moved 20 kms across the river Ganga to the pre-selected site. Its new home is a rich elephant habitat and the river will hopefully minimize the chances of the elephant returning to the old site. Monitoring will continue to ensure the on-going safety of the elephant.

DSWF also supports WTI programmes to help educate and sensitize people to respect wildlife and give it space.

“Building of physical barriers and deterrents, such as electric fences and trenches, help reduce incidents of elephants entering human habitation,” adds Dr Anil Kumar Singh.

For more on DSWF’s Rapid Action Projects in India click here