Wildlife experts blame lack of elephant habitat policy on the part of the respective governments in Jharkhand for the growing cases of man-elephant conflict.

“Unfortunately, in the two decades since creation of Jharkhand none of the government has taken the initiative to form a clear cut policy on elephant habitat. As a result of which developmental activities are being planned and already taken up along traditional elephant corridors forcing them to meander to human areas resulting in increased man-animal conflict,” said R.K. Singh, a Delhi-based environmental scientist and wildlife expert who has done PhD on impact of mining on elephant habitat in Saranda forest from the Wildlife Institute of India (Dehradun).

The raging conflict between man and elephants in Jharkhand has killed 1,405 humans and over 80 elephants from 2000 (since creation of Jharkhand) to June 2020.

According to documents available with the forest department, on an average there are two incidents of man-elephant conflict daily in Jharkhand killing 74 people annually and injuring at least 130.

“Due to increase in mining and forest degradation, the elephant habitat has been disturbed, forcing them to change their diet. Bamboo plant is a staple for elephants, but it has been depleted and now they are attracted towards paddy and maize. An elephant calf that sees its mother feeding on grains does the same later,” said wildlife biologist D.S. Srivastava.

Jamshedpur East MLA Saryu Roy on Tuesday wrote a letter to chief minister Hemant Soren (who also holds the forest portfolio) about the urgent need for an elephant habitat policy.

“Elephant is a state animal of Jharkhand, but unfortunately there has been no policy to protect their habitat. In fact, there has been no plans to protect their corridors in the ongoing widening work of NH-33 crossing Dalma sanctuary. Earlier elephants used to move from Saranda forest (in West Singhbhum) to Dalma sanctuary (till Bengal) via Khunti and Seraikela. Due to mining activities and forest degradation, the elephants are scattered everywhere resulting in damages to crops and man-elephant conflict. The government should not only play a role of distributing compensation amounts to villagers,” the letter stated.