Recently, there was good news for Uttar Pradesh as the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) gave its nod for the creation of Terai Elephant Reserve (TER) in Dudhwa-Pilibhit landscape in the state. This will be the 33rd Elephant Reserve of the country after its notification by the state government.

The Terai Elephant Reserve will comprise of Dudhwa Tiger Reserve, Pilibhit Tiger Reserve, Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary, Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary, Dudhwa buffer zone and forests of south Kheri forest divisions. It would be set up in an area of 3,049.39 square kilometre and the Central government will provide all financial and technical support.

The establishment of the new elephant reserve will help conserve the trans-boundary migration of elephant populations. It will also help protect the neighbouring villages in the Indo-Nepal border area of Uttar Pradesh. It will also be beneficial for the two tiger reserves because of the maintenance of grassland and corridor.

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Indian Masterminds interacted with 1996-batch IFS officer and Director of Project Elephant in MoEFCC, Mr. Ramesh Pandey, to get more details.

TERAI ELEPHANT RESERVE

According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) India, habitat loss and fragmentation are major threats to the existence of elephants. So, there is obvious need to take some important steps in that direction for conservation of elephants and curbing human-elephant conflicts.

The proposal of Terai Elephant Reserve was sent about three years ago by Mr. Ramesh Pandey, when he was the field director of Dudhwa Tiger Reserve. After deep brainstorming on this proposal, Central government has given its approval after the presentation of the project by the present Field Director of Dudhwa Tiger Reserve, Mr. Sanjay Pathak.

Mr. Ramesh Pandey said, “In places where there are elephants, elephant reserves are made for their protection. The proposals comes from the states and the Central government gives its consent. The Central government’s nod for the Terai Elephant Reserve has been received. Now the state government will soon issue a notification.”

TIGER AND ELEPHANT RESERVE TOGETHER

Dudhwa is already a tiger reserve and conserving the tigers. Now, there will also be an elephant reserve here and, hence, both will be protected simultaneously. Both the animals are together in many places, like Rajaji National Park, Jim Corbett, etc. Wherever tigers and elephants co-exist, if there is a need, both tiger and elephant reserves are created for their protection.

“Basically the entire area gets the benefit of the project. This gives strength for their protection and funds will be available for better management. So, with the arrival of another project at a place, the conservation of that area and the already ongoing project gets more strength. So there will be no conflict due to tiger and elephant reserves being together and no legal status will get changed. Rather, the sector will now get more benefits,” Mr. Panday said.

BENEFITS

With this elephant reserve, the frequent conflict between elephant and human will stop. The Forest Department of Uttar Pradesh will also be benefited by getting help from the Centre in establishing an elephant sanctuary in Dudhwa. Project Elephant will finance the establishment and operation of the Terai Elephant Reserve to be built in about 3,049.39 square kilometre.

It will not only provide the financial help, but also support the technical aid. This will lead to better care, maintenance and protection of wild and domesticated elephants. New elephant corridors will be developed for the movement of elephants while the old corridors will be strengthened. Along with this, doctors will be appointed for the treatment of elephants so that timely treatment can be provided to them. If any person dies in an elephant attack, he will be compensated. Sixty per cent share in the funding will be from the central government and 40 per cent from the state government.

Mr. Pandey said, “The tiger reserve conservation plans and TER plans would supplement each other in terms of wildlife protection and conservation, grassland and drinking water management, maintenance and renovation of wild corridors, training and skill development of the forest personnel, mitigation of man-animal conflict, as there would be no financial constraints. Moreover, it will ensure welfare of local communities living in proximity of the two reserves.”

HELPING DUDHWA

The current CCF & Field Director of Dudhwa Tiger Reserve, Mr. Sanjay Pathak said that in view of the decreasing number of Asian elephants around the world, it has been decided to establish Terai Elephant Reserve for their conservation. The in-principle approval of the Central government has been received for the Terai Elephant Reserve and work will start as soon as the budget is received.

“It will help to effectively handle man-elephant conflicts which are presently state-dependent. It will not only boost the eco-tourism, but will also help adopt elephant-centric approach towards their conservation under Project Elephant, besides managing camp or captive Dudhwa elephants. The formation of an elephant reserve will also help in better conservation of wild and domesticated elephants,” he said.

SECOND ELEPHANT RESERVE IN UP

Mr. Ramesh Panday further informed that “TER would be the 33rd elephant reserve in the country and second in Uttar Pradesh. The first elephant reserve in Uttar Pradesh was notified in Shivalik in Saharanpur and Bijnor districts in 2009. It is much smaller in area than the proposed Terai Elephant Reserve.”

According to the census done in the year 2019, there are a total of 352 elephants in the state, while 149 elephants were found in Dudhwa Tiger Reserve alone. And now, their number has increased to 205. Apart from these, there are also a total of 25 domesticated elephants in Dudhwa Tiger Reserve. The forests of Dudhwa Tiger Reserve are also a favorite destination for Nepal’s elephants, due to which large groups of elephants migrate and come here every year.

ABOUT PROJECT ELEPHANT

Project Elephant is a centrally sponsored scheme that supports elephant conservation in India. Project Elephant was launched by the Government of India in 1992 to provide financial and technical aid to states for the protection of free-ranging population of wild Asian elephants. This centrally sponsored scheme aims to ensure long-term survival of Asian elephants in their natural habitats by protecting them, their habitats, and migration corridors.