Guwahati, Aug 16: No land should be converted from agricultural, forestry, orchard, or plantation to residential, commercial, or industrial use in the Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong Elephant Reserve, a critical habitat for Asian elephants that faces numerous challenges despite its significance.
This concern was highlighted in the Management Effectiveness Evaluation (MEE) report on Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong Elephant Reserve by the Wildlife Institute of India. The study, which also evaluated the Shivalik Elephant Reserve in Uttarakhand, Mayurbhanj Elephant Reserve in Odisha, and Nilgiri Elephant Reserve, was conducted by a team of experienced foresters and scientists.
The Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong Elephant Reserve is situated in a landscape significantly altered by human activity, including infrastructure development and agriculture. Human-elephant conflicts have been exacerbated by the dense population in the surrounding areas.
Despite its importance for Asian elephant conservation, the reserve faces numerous challenges that require coordinated efforts to ensure the survival of these majestic animals and promote harmony between local wildlife and human communities.
The landscape connecting Kaziranga and Karbi Anglong is vital for elephant conservation and ecology, providing critical habitat and connectivity for Indian elephants. This area also offers research opportunities while underscoring the importance of biodiversity preservation and fostering cooperation between humans and elephants.
Covering approximately 3,270 sq km, the Elephant Reserve is home to an estimated 2,000 elephants. Its diverse ecosystems include grasslands, forests, and human-inhabited areas, making it unique.
“The proliferation of hotels and dhabas with tall concrete barriers along NH 37, the conversion of agricultural land for commercial use, and the construction of deep trenches by tea gardens along the highway and elsewhere create death traps for elephants and other animals during floods,” the report stated.
The report further emphasized that man-made structures obstructing the movement of animals should be prohibited, as human activity is causing noise and sound pollution, disrupting the area’s natural acoustics. Functional corridors identified in the region must remain free from human interference and changes in land use.
Construction of deep trenches (over a foot in depth), open deep wells, and straight-edged fisheries and ponds should also be prohibited, the report added.
The MEE report highlighted that the Elephant Reserve lacks a management plan for systematic conservation and a strategic direction to achieve its conservation goals. “Additionally, the revision of the Working Plan for the forest divisions that make up the Elephant Reserve has been delayed for some time,” it noted.
It also pointed out that the Elephant Reserve’s boundaries have not been accurately surveyed and documented, leading to encroachment on forest lands, particularly in Karbi Anglong, Golaghat, and Nagaon South Division, reducing elephant habitat.
The report called for the immediate preparation of the Management Plan or Perspective Plan for the Elephant Reserve.
The elephant population in the reserve has been declining over the past decade, with numbers falling from 1,246 in the 2005 Animal Census to 1,089 in the 2017 census conducted in Kaziranga National Park (KNP). The mortality rate of elephants has also increased, from 29 in 2005 to 50 in 2013 in KNP.
A significant issue highlighted was the lack of unified administration in managing the Elephant Reserve. “The forested lands of the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council have an independent management and governance framework. The lack of coordination between the council, Kaziranga Tiger Reserve (KTR), and other forest divisions hinders effective conservation and corridor management,” the report stated.
It further noted that elephant habitats and biodiversity values have not been properly assessed, and there are no policies to mitigate risks. Soil erosion caused by slash-and-burn agriculture and timber theft in Karbi Anglong are degrading elephant habitats.
The report recommended a complete ban on the use of chemical pesticides and urged that tea cultivation in the Kaziranga region should be made entirely organic. It also called for the use of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds to leverage resources from tea gardens, such as tractors, to raise awareness and create livelihood opportunities for local communities.
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