Banyan fodder for Athagarh jumbos

The Times of India , Sunday, June 16, 2013
Correspondent : TNN
CUTTACK: To reduce man-elephant conflict, the Athagarh forest division has decided to raise green fodder bank in the reserve forest to ensure adequate amount of food for the jumbos and stop them from straying into agricultural fields and human habitats. As a first step, the forest division will start massive plantation of banyan trees from July.

"In the first phase, we have procured over 2,000 banyan saplings, which are preferred by elephants, and will begin its plantation from July 1. The saplings will be planted along the elephant corridor from Sukasena range to Kankhala," said divisional forest officer of Athagarh Arun Mishra.

Explaining the importance of the banyan tree, the DFO said that the holy tree is not only the favourite of elephants but is also useful for human beings, birds and other animals. The banyan trees control air pollution and the density of leaves help reduce temperature of the surroundings.

Along with banyan, the forest division will also carry out massive plantation of jackfruit trees, mango trees, wood apple (aata) and neem trees, which elephants prefer.

"This year, there was very good production of mango and jackfruit in the area and we have collected large number of seeds, which will be planted at the identified spots," said a forest official. According to 2012 census, there are 131 elephants in Athagarh forest division.

 
SOURCE : http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-06-16/bhubaneswar/40005940_1_banyan-trees-forest-official-jumbos
 


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