Experts have highlighted the escalating deforestation and mushrooming human settlements near forests as major factors triggering aggressive behavior by wild elephants.[break]
In less than two months, 10 locals have died in elephant attacks in different parts of the three districts. Most of the killings happened in human settlements near Chitwan National Park (CNP) and Parsa Wildlife Reserve (PWR).
Ganesh Pant, a researcher studying the relationship of elephants and human settlements in Nepal, said there can be many factors behind the attacks.
“Wild elephants´ natural habitat at both CNP and PWR has been disturbed by the increase in deforestation and human settlements. Elephant populations have increased but forests have narrowed. Their inability to cope with these drastic changes must have generated such aggression in them,” said Pant.
Ram Prashad Moktan, a 70-year-old, was killed in horrendous fashion by a wild elephant in Thori, Parsa district on July 6. “Looking at the dead body, we could understand that the elephant was extremely agitated. In three more districts, more than 10 locals were killed in similar manner,” said a local in Sapahi VDC. “What could have aroused such rage in that beast?” asked the local.
According to Tika Ram Poudel, warden at CNP, the encroachment of their regular paths by increasing human settlements must have incensed the elephants.
“Elephants travel around 40 km a day and they usually follow set tracks. Today, many people have erected huts on those paths,” said Poudel.
“These elephants have changed. Unlike before, they don´t fear to trudge inside human settlements any more,” added Poudel.
In four decades, one-third of the forest area in Bara district has been transformed into human settlements, hemming in the movement of the elephants. Experts call this ´connectivity breakage´.
“There is a need to expand forest areas and fill in the empty areas with trees,” said Bindu Kumari Mishar, Parsa district forest officer.
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