Gentle giants face threat from worms

The Times of India , Sunday, June 16, 2013
Correspondent : K A Shaji
The elephant deaths in the Sathyamangalam forest reserve stand out because Tamil Nadu has a reasonably good record in conservation.

Though forest department was unwilling to provide statistics, most experts familiar with forests in Tamil Nadu were in agreement that elephant mortality was high in Sathyamangalam reserve compared to the nearby Mudumalai, Coimbatore and Anamalai forests.

As per the data provided by the state forest department to S Suraj Kumar of Tirupur, who had filed an RTI application, a majority of the elephant deaths in western Tamil Nadu have taken place in Bhavani Sagar and Sathyamangalam forest ranges, which are contiguous. No deaths have been reported in forest ranges like Thalavady, Hassanur, TN Palayam, all in western Tamil Nadu.

According to forest department sources, there have been 298 elephant deaths in Sathyamangalam between 1999 and 2010. Of these, 107 were in the period from 2008 to 2012. Only two of these were due to poachers. Deaths due to anthrax, electrocution and gastroenteritis too have been minimal here. Officials claim electrocution of elephants due to erection of electrified fences which are illegal has considerably decreased due to constant monitoring and quick action by the forest department.

So, most of the deaths are being blamed on worm infection, caused by drinking contaminated water. The extended drought has led to a lot of water holes in the forests drying up, forcing wild animals to move out of forests in search of water and food.

A senior official asserted that poaching has been controlled effectively in Sathyamangalam and nearby forests. "However, death due to parasites has increased. Parasites spread from goats and cows that belong to tribal people living in the forest reserve. Domestic animals and elephants drink from the same water source and the disease spreads. De-worming of animals may be an option but we have to get expert consent,'' said a senior forest official, who didn't want to be named. "If a female elephant that takes care of the entire herd becomes weak, it becomes susceptible to worms. Incidents of worms affecting the male population are rare,'' said another official.

According to sources in the forest department, officials and veterinarians often bury the carcasses in a hurry to avoid follow-up action. Staff shortage and limited resources to ensure water conservation within the forests compound the problem.

Tribals dispute the forest department's allegation that their cattle spread diseases. "Cattle that belong to tribal people in forest areas are de-wormed. Deforestation is the reason for water bodies drying up and getting contaminated. Ironically, the department says elephants are dying even as they claim the number of tigers is on the rise,'' says P Dorai of Tamil Nadu Pazhamkudi Makkal Sanghom, a forum that represents forest dwellers.

A majority of the electrocution cases were reported from the Bhavani Sagar dam, where the state public works department has been leasing out dry parts of the catchment area during summer for short-term cultivation. Solar-power fencing along a length of 239km has already been ensured to keep elephants away from agricultural lands.

In Coimbatore forest division, 85 elephants have died in the last 10 years. Of this, 25 died due to natural causes, 16 due to electrocution, 11 in accidents including train mishaps and 35 died of diseases.

 
SOURCE : http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-06-16/flora-fauna/40006706_1_forest-department-elephant-deaths-bhavani-sagar
 


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