Point of view:

Save the elephant

by Gwen Herat

A move by the Wildlife authorities to relocate boisterous elephants from their herds and from their natural habitats to strange places, far, far away from their family herd, is bound to have repercussions.

The elephants will trek back even thousands of miles with time or die of starvation and perhaps pine for their lost habitat. They will never adapt itself to a strange location, away from where they were born. Its mental behaviour has revealed this over and over again.

The elephant is an intelligent animal, a protective 'father' to its young ones and will turn violent to defend them. Otherwise, it minds its own business. Because of this intelligent behaviour, it was used in wars by former kings. Do not relocate elephants but relocate farmers and villagers.

This latest move by the Wildlife Ministry is not the answer according to farmers, villagers and elephant sympathisers, as I watched their comments on TV on May 7 on the 7 o'clock news.

Captivity

Why is the elephant subject to this treatment both in captivity and in the forest. We can overcome this. There is always an answer to a problem. Relocate farmers and villagers who have invaded elephant areas.

The State must find alternate settlement and remove every family. They can be financially helped start life elsewhere. Those who have illegally encroached on State land, must be evacuated forthwith.

When everyone is removed from these trespassed areas and elephant paths left for these herds, they will gradually resume their former habits and with time move into the thicket of the forest. They will have no farmer to attack nor his succulent crops that have been the attraction to the elephants and gave rise to the elephant-man conflict.

This is a permanent solution where the high cost of erecting power-lines, transporting animals elsewhere and inflicting injuries both mentally and physically can be eliminated for good. Years ago, this is the way we survived with the elephant community. We never harmed them and neither did they.

Mr. Minister, go back to that era, when we had over 20,000 animals whereas we now have only 2000 or so which is much easier to handle and leave elephants to themselves.

If you plan it immediately, to organise the relocation of farmers/villagers lot by lot, stage by stage with family support given, the farmer too will live in peace without the stress of encountering elephants at his doorstep every morning.

There is plenty of idle land in our country, away from elephant paths that can be brought under chena cultivation and other cultivation as well. The Land Ministry can cooperate and make available idle and virgin land. This is good for the country too and her vegetation when new crops on new land see light.

Forests have not shrunk but they have been made to shrink because of human invasion thus interfering with weather pattern. Therefore, the only viable solution is to relocate man.

The displaced and disarrayed herds of elephants with their babies have become the victims of the deadly 'galkatas' and die a gruesome death while some are shot dead or maimed for life. There are the others who tread on landmines and have lost their limbs.

Way back in 2009, the Wildlife Department in the North Western Zone undertook several projects to have 'A country without Human Elephant Conflict'.

One was to erect an electric fence to the extent of 300 kilometres and the establishment of an elephant rehabilitation centre and orphanage'. Rs. 900 million was allocated for the project that involved conservation, preservation, and rehabilitation of wilds. I believe there can never be a rehabilitated wild elephant.

There was also a move by the Environment and Natural Resources Ministry to explore and amend the Flora and Fauna Act to strengthen the security cover for elephants. If all this was implemented we should have seen some results.

There is also conflicting statements to the effect about the population count of elephants. Some leave it at 4,000 while others debate at 2000 and some in between these counts. I have kept a mental track by these numbers and would leave it at around 2000.

There is also speculation of a gradual increase in the elephant population which I doubt.

The elephant must not be allowed to be held in captivity for labour and tourist attraction. They can go to Pinnawela Orphanage and have a look at them. Even the Dehiwela Zoological Gardens must refrain from future additionals. Only the temples must be allowed to maintain elephants within their premises and used for peraharas and other religious activities.

The elephant that is a vegetarian is a sensitive, uninterferring animal that minds its own business within its herd or as a loner. If perturbed or roused, it can be dangerous or violent. It gets on well with all other communities in the deep forest and never harm them.

A true Lord of the Jungle, its majestic demeanour is precious and personal to it and we must respect its privacy and not cross its path. The elephant is a symbol of our heritage.