Two officials suspended after elephant death in Bandhavgarh, task force formed

Bhopal:

Two senior forest officials of Madhya Pradesh have been suspended for alleged negligence in their duties following the death of 10 elephants in the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve. Assistant forest conservator Fateh Singh Ninama and field director Gaurav Chaudhary were removed from their posts due to failure of leadership and vigilance.

The suspensions come after several allegations, including delayed response times and a lack of oversight of critical incidents related to the welfare of elephants in the reserve.

Field director Gaurav Chaudhary was suspended for not returning from leave when he was informed of the elephant deaths. Mr Ninama was accused of not taking proactive measures despite previous elephant sightings.

Last year, three tiger reserve employees were also suspended: officer Shil Sindhu Shrivastava and forest rangers Kamla Prasad Kol and Pushpendranath Mishra. They had kept quiet about the discovery of a dead elephant and burned the carcass.

The case only became public when a photo of the burning carcass went viral and a wildlife activist filed a formal complaint.

Prime Minister Mohan Yadav has now formed a state-level elephant task force.

This body aims to establish “Elephant Friends” in districts that promote the coexistence of elephants and humans.

Preventive measures announced include sunshades to protect crops and efforts to engage farmers in alternative livelihoods, such as agroforestry, to limit crop damage.

Dr. Yadav underlined the need for sustainable forest development that would help promote harmony between local communities and wildlife.

The state government has also initiated discussions with the Union Environment Minister to seek support for forest management strategies and integrate best practices from other states known for elephant management.

Acknowledging the gravity of the situation, the Prime Minister expressed deep concern over the recent deaths in Umaria district, describing the incident as tragic and avoidable.

Following an inspection by the Forest Minister and senior officials, preliminary investigations have ruled out the involvement of pesticides, although the full post-mortem report is still pending.

Dr. Yadav has directed the forest department to map agricultural areas and implement safety measures, including sun shelters, to protect crops and reduce human-animal conflict.

To improve elephant management in Madhya Pradesh, officials will visit Karnataka, Kerala and Assam – states known for their significant elephant populations and successful conservation practices. These study tours are intended to provide insight into sustainable management practices that can be applied in Bandhavgarh and other areas where elephants now reside permanently.

The government has significantly increased compensation for human casualties due to elephant encounters, increasing support for affected families from Rs 8 lakh to Rs 25 lakh. Lone elephants that separate from their herds will be fitted with radio transmitters to ensure monitoring and prevent future incidents.