Once engaged to guide tourists in the wildlife sanctuaries and control the marauding pachyderms, the trained elephants brought from the neighbouring State are now reportedly left to fend for themselves in the reserve forests here. It is alleged that they are not adequately fed and properly taken care of.
Sources said three elephants __ Mahendra, Sobha and Bhavani __ were brought to Similipal from Karnataka in November 2001 for promotion of eco-tourism and protection of wildlife and forests. They were trained for these jobs.
While Sobha gave birth to a female elephant Laxmi in April 2002, Bhavani gave birth to Rajkumar in October 2002 and Shivani in December 2008. After the death of Laxmi due to snakebite in April 2006, Bhavani and Shivani have been staying inside Similipal forests. Sobha and Mahendra were sent to Berhampur range and
Rajkumar to Chandaka forest.
Honorary wildlife warden Sanjukta Basa and wildlife activist Vanoo Mitra Acharya, who had visited both the forest ranges recently, said during the shifting of the three elephants to their respective destinations, the forest officials had assured that they would be properly trained and engaged for the protection of forests, but no such activities are seen now.
“Forget about imparting them training, the forest officials are not taking good care of the jumbos. They are not adequately fed and given their choice of food. Instead of different kinds of herbs, Rajkumar at Chandaka is fed only bamboo leaves and that too in less quantity,” Basa alleged, adding that the animals love their family and should not have been separated.
A mature adult has a prodigious appetite and requires between 200-300 kg of food every day and can drink up to 60 gallons of water. “They spend up to 16 hours a day eating. But the forest lacks the plant species,” she said.
Basa said Mahouts engaged for looking after the elephants and train them also lamented the apathetic attitude of the forest officials. They alleged that they are not paid well and the elephants are not sufficiently fed. “One of the mahouts has left the job as he was not granted leave and the required salary,” she said.
Though the elephants are not violent in nature, none other than the mahouts from Mayurbhanj can train them properly.
The wildlife activists have demanded that the elephants be brought back to Similipal, which is famous for its flora and fauna.
Basa has threatened to file a writ in the Supreme Court if the forest officials do not take any step in this regard. “I had written a letter to the Forest and Environment Secretary, who, in a reply told me that the suggestion has been forwarded to PCCF (wildlife). But no action has been taken yet,” she added.
Regional Conservator of Forest (RCF) Anup Nayak said a suggestion has been made to the Department to bring back the three elephants __ Sobha, Mahendra and Rajkumar __ to Similipal. “It is up to the Government to take a decision,” he added.
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