A gang is reportedly active in killing elephants in the country. At least 34 elephants were killed in Bangladesh in 2021. The Forest Department can’t avoid its responsibility as it played a poor role in stopping the killing of wildlife animals, while the department did not file any case in the incidents of elephant killings of 2021.
Bangladesh Nature Conservation Alliance (BNCA), a united platform of 33 environmental organisations, revealed the data and findings following a shadow investigation. The platform also placed 11-point recommendation in stopping the elephant killing.
The BNCA arranged a press conference at the auditorium of Stamford University Bangladesh in the capital on Tuesday (February 22) to publish the report of the shadow investigation.
The elephant killing incidents should be investigated by the CID or PIB to ensure the trial of the culprits, BNCA demanded.
Prof Dr Ahmad Kamruzzaman Majumder, convener of BNCA and chairman of Center for Atmospheric Pollution Studies (CAPS) of Stamford University, read the written statement at the press conference.
Muhammad Anowarul Hoque, secretary general of Save Our Sea; journalist Kefayet Shakil, member of the convening committee of BNCA; Rashed ul Majeed, chairman of Environment People; and several others were involved in the shadow investigation. They were present at the press conference.
In December last year, the BNCA launched the ‘shadow investigation’ into the recent incidents of elephant killing. It was carried out at Ramu in Cox’s Bazar and in Sribhardi area of Sherpur.
Referring to the Cox’s Bazar investigation, the shadow probe team said more than half of the 13,065 acres of forestland in the Panerchhara and Dhoyapalang ranges of the Cox’s Bazar South Forest Department has been illegally occupied. However, the department has stated that the amount is 1,202 acres.
Apart from this, corridors of elephant movement and their habitats have been destroyed due to various development activities on forestland. As a result, about 40 elephants are trapped in an area of about 100 acres, they added.
The shadow probe team further said that illegal activities in forest, various farms, enclosures, electricity connection and different other activities have created extreme threat to elephants and other wildlife. Many elephants attack homes and farms due to acute crisis of their shelter and food. As a result, the conflict between elephant and human in the area is increasing day by day. For this reason, people are getting involved in incidents such as killing elephants.
According to the shadow investigation team, only 16 people from the Forest Department are involved in various activities including protection of 13,075 acres of forestland in Dhoyapalang and Panerchhara ranges, regular patrols, creation of forestry, official daily activities. The Forest Department also lacks capacity to protect elephants and other wild animals. However, the members of the Elephant Response Team (ERT) don’t have a proper system, so they can’t respond in a timely manner.
Expressing concern over the continuous killing of wild elephants in the country, the BNCA made 11-point recommendations. These include forest department’s failure to protect forests, forestland and wildlife must be investigated and the culprits must be brought to justice; cases of elephant killings should be investigated by the CID or PBI; illegal occupants must be removed from the forest; and all departments of the government should be involved in the protection of wildlife by forming a national commission.
Some other points are: not with the project, the forest department should also be allocated in the regular budget for the protection of wildlife; public awareness should be increased by involving the mass media extensively; and the forest department needs to quickly add all the necessary facilities with adequate manpower.
