HC directs union, state govts to form Elephant Task Force

I hope this task force succeeds to save elephants..

HC directs union, state govts to form Elephant Task Force
PTI | 05:01 PM,Jan 04,2012

Bangalore, Jan 4 (PTI) Taking cognisance of increasing number of elephant deaths, the Karnataka High Court today directed the state and the Union governments to constitute a task force within 10 days to work towards mitigating man- elephant conflicts. Hearing a suo motu petition over the issue, the division bench of Chief Justice Vikramajit Sen and Justice B V Nagarathna directed the governments to constitute the force, comprising experts from various fields, including the forest, environment and also scientists and to specify short-term and long-term steps to prevent elephant deaths. While hearing this petition in November last, the court had said permission for translocation cannot be granted unless experts' opinion is got. It also directed the Centre to seek advice of conservation experts of Africa or any other country. Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Wildlife Warden B K Singh had then stated the main reason for man- animal conflict in the state was 'island fencing' of coffee estates in Kodagu, loss of forest area and indiscriminate eco- tourism. He had said that thick growth of weeds like parthenium, lantana and eupatorium in wildlife sanctuaries and national parks in Karnataka created food scarcity for pachyderms in forests. He had also referred to mushrooming resorts and farms on the Kaniyanpura Elephant Corridor and sought directions to remove fences around large private farms for uninterrupted elephant movement. "Our exercise to translocate two jumbos have failed. We will now translocate families of five at a time," he said. However, Chief Justice Sen said, "You said that a resort has come up at Bandipur on the corridors. Have you recommended for removal of the resort or the elephants? You should be protecting the animals not people."