• UGI USER
  • Jul 20, 2024
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KARNATAKA HC ISSUES NOTICE ON ELEPHANT ELECTROCUTION

Syllabus:

GS 3:

  • Conservation of wild flora and fauna .
  • Man -Animal Conflict.

Why in the News?

The Karnataka High Court issued notices to KPTCL and various Escoms after the State Forest Department highlighted that sagging electrical wires and illegal fencing by private landowners were causing the electrocution of elephants and other wildlife, following the death of a 38-year-old elephant, Ashwathama.

Source: IE

Court Notice and Hearing Details 

  • Court Notice: The Karnataka High Court issued notices to KPTCL and various Escoms due to concerns from the State Forest Department about sagging electrical wires and illegal fencing in forests, leading to wildlife electrocution.
  • Division Bench: This action was initiated by a Division Bench during a suo motu PIL hearing triggered by reports of elephant deaths.
  • Elephant Ashwathama: The court’s notice was influenced by the death of Ashwathama, a 38-year-old Dasara elephant, suspected to be electrocuted on June 11 at Nagarahole Tiger Reserve.
  • The Forest Department’s Communication : The Forest Department highlighted their repeated warnings to KPTCL and Escoms about sagging wires and the lack of response from private landowners regarding illegal fencing.

Elephant Protection Efforts and Call for Collaboration:

  • Forest Department’s Role: Persistent communication and action against illegal fencing show the Forest Department’s commitment to conservation.
  • Government’s Measures: Barriers, fencing, and trenches reflect a strategy to protect elephants and prevent them from entering human areas.
  • Ongoing Challenges: Persistent issues with wires and fencing indicate a need for better collaboration between government and private entities.
  • Enhanced Communication: Effective wildlife protection requires improved coordination among the Forest Department, power companies, and private landowners.
  • Legal and Administrative Actions: The court’s notice highlights the need for robust legal and administrative measures to prevent wildlife electrocution

Threats to Elephants

Habitat Loss and Fragmentation:

  • Urban Expansion: The rapid growth of cities and towns encroaches on elephant habitats, leading to a reduction in the areas where elephants can live and forage.
  • Agricultural Development: Conversion of forests to agricultural land not only reduces habitat size but also creates fragmented patches, isolating elephant populations.
  • Infrastructure Projects: Construction of roads, railways, and other infrastructure through elephant habitats disrupts their migratory routes and causes habitat fragmentation.

Human-Elephant Conflict:

  • Crop Raiding: Elephants raid plantations and crop fields near forest edges in search of food, leading to economic losses for farmers.
  • Property Damage: Elephants can cause significant damage to homes and infrastructure, leading to conflicts with local communities.
  • Human Casualties: Conflicts often result in injuries or deaths of both humans and elephants, exacerbating tensions between wildlife and local populations.

Poaching:

  • Ivory Trade: Poachers target elephants for their ivory tusks, which are highly valued in illegal markets.
  • Meat and Body Parts: Elephants are also hunted for their meat and other body parts, further threatening their populations.
  • Skewed Sex Ratios: Selective poaching of tusked males leads to imbalanced male-female ratios, affecting the breeding potential of elephant populations.

Accidental Deaths:

  • Train Collisions: Elephants crossing railway tracks are often hit by trains, leading to fatalities.
  • Electrocution: Elephants come into contact with low-hanging or illegally installed electric wires, resulting in electrocution.
  • Crude Bombs: Elephants fall victim to crude bombs intended for other animals, causing severe injuries or death.
  • Pits and Trenches: Elephants accidentally fall into man-made pits or trenches, leading to injuries or fatalities.

Reasons for Conflict:

  1. Large Home Range: Elephants, as large herbivores, require vast areas for roaming, foraging, and migrating in search of food and water with seasonal changes.
  2. Home Range Variation: The home range of an elephant herd can vary significantly, from about 250 sq. km in Rajaji National Park to over 3,500 sq. km in West Bengal’s fragmented landscapes.
  3. Increased Range: As elephants are forced to travel farther due to habitat loss, they come into more frequent contact with humans.
  4. Human Encroachment: Humans encroach on forest areas by planting crops, building homes, roads, and railways, increasing the chances of conflict with elephants.
  5. Nutritional Crops: Planting nutritious crops near forest lands attracts elephants, leading to more interactions and potential conflicts.
  6. Habitat Fragmentation: Fragmentation of natural habitats forces elephants into human settlements, exacerbating the conflict.
Supreme Court Judgement on Man-Animal Conflict in India

1.  T.N. Godavarman Thirumulpad v. Union of India & Others (Writ Petition (Civil) No. 202 of 1995):

  • Context: This landmark case has led to several orders related to forest conservation and wildlife protection.
  • Order: The Supreme Court emphasized the need for protecting forest areas and wildlife habitats to prevent human-animal conflicts.
  • Significance: It reinforced the legal framework for conservation efforts and directed the government to implement measures to safeguard forest resources.

2.   entre for Environmental Law, WWF-I v. Union of India & Others (Writ Petition (Civil) No. 337 of 1995):

  • Context: This case dealt with the implementation of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, and other conservation laws.
  • Order: The Court directed the government to take proactive measures for wildlife conservation, including the creation of wildlife corridors and protection of habitats.
  • Significance: It stressed the importance of preserving wildlife corridors to reduce man-animal conflicts and ensure safe migration routes for animals.

3.  M.K. Balakrishnan & Others v. Union of India & Others (Writ Petition (Civil) No. 230 of 2001):

  • Context: This case addressed issues related to the management of protected areas and the implementation of conservation schemes.
  • Order: The Supreme Court ordered the government to ensure the effective implementation of Project Elephant and other conservation initiatives.
  • Significance: It highlighted the need for comprehensive strategies to mitigate human-elephant conflicts and protect elephant habitats.

Measures Taken for Conservation

Project Elephant:

  • Launch and Objectives: Launched in 1992, Project Elephant aims to conserve elephant populations, protect their habitats, and ensure the welfare of captive elephants.
  • Implementation: The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change provides financial and technical support to major elephant range states under this project.

Habitat Restoration:

  • Corridor Restoration: Efforts are focused on restoring and maintaining elephant corridors to ensure safe migratory routes.
  • Habitat Protection: Initiatives include protecting and managing existing elephant habitats to prevent further degradation.

Anti-Poaching Measures:

  • Patrolling and Surveillance: Establishing anti-poaching squads and increasing patrolling in vulnerable areas.
  • Community Involvement: Encouraging local communities to report poaching activities by offering rewards for information.
  • Legal Actions: Strengthening laws and enforcing strict penalties for poaching-related offenses.

Conflict Mitigation:

  • Eco-Development: Promoting sustainable development practices that reduce human-elephant conflicts, such as cultivating crops that elephants are less likely to raid.
  • Awareness Programs: Educating local communities about elephant behaviour and the importance of conservation.
  • Anti-Depredation Squads: Deploying teams to manage and mitigate elephant depredation incidents.
  • Scientific Management: Using scientific methods to manage elephant populations and reduce conflict.

Legal Protection:

  • Wildlife Protection Act: Elephants are listed under Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, providing them the highest level of legal protection against hunting and trading.

Ex-Gratia Payments:

  • Compensation: Providing financial compensation to families affected by human-elephant conflicts to foster coexistence and reduce retaliatory killings.

Disease Prevention:

  • Health Monitoring: Regular health check-ups and monitoring of wild elephants for early detection of diseases.
  • Veterinary Support: Providing veterinary care and treatment to ensure the health and well-being of elephant populations.
Best Practices to Prevent Man-Animal Conflict Worldwide

1.  Beehive Fences (Africa):

  • Utilized in Kenya and Tanzania, beehive fences deter elephants due to their fear of bees, preventing crop raids and promoting coexistence.

2.  Wildlife Corridors (USA):

  • Establishing corridors in Yellowstone National Park facilitates safe animal movement, reducing roadkill and human-wildlife encounters.

3.  Chili Bombs (India):

  • In Assam, chili-infused ropes and fences deter elephants from entering agricultural fields, minimizing crop damage.

4.  Compensation Programs (Nepal):

  • Implementing schemes to compensate farmers for livestock losses to predators reduces retaliatory killings of wildlife.

5.  Electric Fencing (Australia):

  • Solar-powered electric fences protect crops from kangaroos, promoting sustainable agriculture and wildlife conservation.

6.  Community Involvement (Namibia):

  • Conservancies involving local communities in wildlife management ensure sustainable practices and conflict mitigation.

Conclusion

This incident underscores the urgent need for enhanced collaboration between forest authorities, power supply companies, and landowners to mitigate electrical hazards and protect wildlife. Legal and administrative measures should be reinforced to ensure the safety of animals and promote sustainable coexistence between humans and wildlife.

Source:The Hindu

Mains Practice Question:

  1. Examine the role of state and central government agencies in wildlife conservation and the importance of inter-departmental coordination to prevent incidents like the electrocution of elephants.
  2.  Analyze the legal and ethical responsibilities of private landowners in wildlife protection, particularly in preventing hazards such as illegal electrical fencing.

Associated Article:

https://universalinstitutions.com/human-wildlife-conflict/