Poaching is a big threat in North Bengal with three International borders surrounding the area. While foot patrolling and vehicle patrolling takes place to check poaching, the forest department is now using elephants to protect more than 310 rhinoceros in Jaldapara National Park in North Bengal.
North Bengal has big jungles, making constant patrolling in every nook and corner the need of the hour. To keep a close eye on poaching, elephant patrolling is very useful, said forest officials.
On March 21, Riloch Narjari, also known as Damra, was apprehended in Kamrup, Assam, by Alipurduar Police and Forest Department. Damra is infamous for operating a big poaching racket. He is allegedly responsible for killing 10 rhinos in 2014 and this catch, therefore, was big.
There are 85 departmental elephants who carry out patrolling in the entire area. The Jaldapara National Park has 300 plus rhinos and more than 250 wild elephants.
This protection strategy is important and it is giving good results, said sources in the forest department.
Speaking to News18, DFO Parveen Kaswan said, “In riverine, forests and tall grasslands, patrolling by vehicle becomes difficult. Also, the presence of mega herbivores makes it dangerous for the staff. Elephants are an important medium of patrolling for us.”
There are 25 towers at the Jaldapara National Park through which constant monitoring goes on in this area. GPS tracking, too, is used by the Forest Department. Attachment of GPS chips with elephants also helps.
Along with this, drones are also used to keep track on poaching and local intelligence, too, helps the forest department.
In 2014-2015, the poaching rate was high in this area, which has reduced now using all these techniques, said forest department sources.
The main hindrance in combating poaching is that the maximum punishment for poachers is 7 years even as some of the most expensive materials (ivory, horn) are smuggled.
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