Welcome Steps to Give Elephants Legal Protection
Elephant Family is encouraged by a recent recommendation from the Indian Ministry of Environment and Forests to amend the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. The proposed revision would allow for the prosecution of power distribution company officials whose negligence is responsible for the regular deaths of elephants.
Last month we reported that elephant electrocutions in Orissa are occurring at a frightening rate. These deaths could be easily prevented, yet power distribution companies persist in ignoring ardent requests to protect Asian elephants. The corporations in question continue to flout regulations: overlooking low-hanging high tension wires; failing to maintain power cables; and taking fatal shortcuts by placing (often unsecured) poles too far apart, causing wires to sag and creating elephant death-traps.
We would strongly welcome this modification to the Wildlife Protection Act as, if passed, it would reinforce our efforts in Orissa State, India to drastically reduce elephant fatalities. We are currently working in conjunction with the Wildlife Society of Orissa to prevent elephant electrocutions, and campaigning to hold the companies in question to account.
The amendment would also implicate train drivers who disregard speed limits and frequently mow down elephants that are crossing train tracks. If enforced, the revision to the Act would therefore also strengthen our work on the ground with the Wildlife Trust of India, with whom we are introducing various simple measures to reduce elephant deaths along railways.
As India continues to develop its internal infrastructure, electrocutions and train accidents are taking an increasing toll on its remaining wild elephants. Consequently, any legislation that is introduced and subsequently enforced to protect them could be critical for their conservation.
written by Jo Cary-Elwes on 28th February 11
