An excellent move.

Dr. Mahesh Rangarajan is a renowned wildlife historian. Elephants deserve high degree of protection.

Elephant conservation is a much more complicated affair than tiger conservation for it requires huge space and involve in direct conflict with man. Portraying elephants as an acceptable animal to a farmer living in the fringes of the elephant country is very difficult these days. Yet, our country very fortunately revere elephants as living incarnation of Lord Ganesh and worship them. Moreever, unlike Africa, elephant meat is not consumed here.

The initial focus of the task force should ideally be in Eastern states of Orissa, W.Bengal and parts of Bihar where elephants suffer the most due to habitat loss and poaching.