Villagers in Dudhwa form squads to check elephant menace

"A group of experts from Assam led by Hiten Baishya visited Dudhwa, surveyed the elephant-affected villages and submitted their recommendations three months back.

"The group relying on their Assam experiences, where elephant menace is a frequent feature held talks with the villagers and persuaded them to form anti-depredation squads (ADS)," WWF-India coordinator Mohit Gupta told PTI.

Rich aquatic resources, a healthy forest cover and adequate protection levels have attracted the migratory elephants of Nepal to such an extent that they have now made the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve (DTR) their permanent abode.

For the last few years, these elephants have been entering into the human settlements, raiding the crop-fields and damaging hutments, Gupta said.

To deal with this menace, the experts have recommended forming such ADS without causing any harm to wildlife, he added.

Villagers will be imparted training about the nature and behaviour of elephants and the ways to ward them off away from human settlements, Gupta said.

Deputy Director, DTR Ganesh Bhat said initially ADS groups would be formed in the three most affected villages of Tanda, Bhagwantnagar and Baudhiya Kalan, where 15 villagers have been kept in each squad.

The squads equipped with search-lights, communication handsets and other devices would man the watch-towers erected on the tree-tops, Bhat said.

"In case of raiding of wild elephants, the squad members would intimate the Dudhwa authorities and the WWF experts, who would rush to site to drive away the elephants back to forests", he said.

"This combined effort by the villagers and the Dudhwa authorities would not only help reduce man-animal conflict but ensure active cooperation from the people, who are an integral part of the initiative," Bhat added.