The task to minimise the intensity of man versus wildlife conflict seems to be a more arduous task than thinking of peaceful co-existence of wild species. Man not only complicated the noble concept of ‘peaceful co-existence’ in the universe with the passage of time but also threatened the very fragile ecological balance for which preservation of wildlife is as important as that of human beings.
Earlier infighting and poaching were the two most concerning factors endangering the existence of species like elephants and tigers. Now it is rapid urbanisation harming the wildlife by way of encroachment into wild habitats across the State. The fact is that squeezing wildlife sanctuaries have only led to infighting among different species, human-animal conflict, harming lives of both of them.
According to the Corbett wildlife Research centre nearly 100 elephants have died only in the highly protected and guarded Corbett Tiger Reserve since 1990. While 13 died due to infighting and nine by fighting with tiger, a majority of the rest of the elephants were killed in accidents caused by vehicular traffic on elephant corridors and electricity current because of high tension wires on wild habitats.
The concerning factor is that after the creation of new State, the toll of the elephant has only gone up with nearly 50 being killed during that period. As many as seven were killed in 2000 followed by six in 2001, one in 2002, four in 2003, five in 2004, six in 2005, five in 2006, six in 2007 and nine in 2008 in CTR alone. Over 100 elephants have died since 2000 in other reserve parks of the State.
Given the rise in deaths of wild animals in accidents and decreasing wild habitation though the Government has proposed as many as 11 elephant corridors in the State, delay on its part coupled with rapid urbanisation has only defeated the very purpose of preservation of wildlife. Out of the proposed corridors, three were Ramanagar-Haldwani-Gola, Kilpura-Khatima and Khatima-Surai corridors.
But as per the wildlife experts the SIDCUL, an industrial hub in US Nagar has badly hit the dedicated elephant corridors that goes from Ramanagar-Haldwani and Khatima upto Nepal border. As per 2007 census there are total 622 elephants in CTR in comparison with 638 in 2005, 627 in 2003, 590 in 2001, 619 in 1999, and 746 in 1997.
