Helping the elephants of Orissa
No sooner had we reported about our founder Mark’s return to where it all began, than we were once again tragically reminded of the main purpose of our visit. Another elephant had been killed from coming into contact with a low-hanging power line. At least 86 elephants have now been killed in this way over the past ten years in Orissa State, and Elephant Family has just started an initiative to address this situation.
In partnership with the Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI) and the Wildlife Society of Orissa, all power lines that are hanging below the regulation height – and therefore present a threat to elephants – are to be recorded. The power companies are then to be held to account to rectify the situation, and ensure that no more elephants perish like this.
In the meantime, Elephant Family is also supporting an ongoing initiative with WPSI to improve the connections between habitat fragments for Asian elephants in Orissa, and prevent them coming into conflict with people, a situation that is otherwise on the increase. One of the main reasons that elephants stray into areas of human habitation is their quest for water, as many of the original waterholes and streams that they used to use have been diverted for irrigation. Through WPSI, Elephant Family is therefore reinstating some key waterholes along the routes that they prefer to use, and several have already been constructed, complete with soft muddy areas where elephants like to play. We are also increasing their natural food sources along these routes, to likewise keep them from raiding crops as much as possible.
Another innovative technique that is being tested is the installation of “elephant-friendly ramps” across main irrigation canals (pictured above with the WPSI and Elephant Family team, courtesy of WPSI). Steep-sided and concrete-lined irrigation canals present a barrier to elephants trying to move through the area, but the ramps provide a gentle gradient and a route through. Thanks to WPSI’s recommendations, Rengali Irrigation Authority – who are constructing the irrigation canals – are now installing these ramps as a matter of course. Once the canals are filled with water they should no longer present such a barrier to elephants, enabling them to cross to feeding sites, preventing human-elephant conflict, and maintaining the overall integrity of the Orissa elephant population.
written by Dan Bucknell on 13th December 10
