In an effort to minimize elephant menace, Government has started using latest mobile technologies.
Yes, WhatsApp and SMS based alert system have of late been used by the agencies and government departments.
Disclosing this, a senior official in the union ministry of environment and forests said, “Latest technologies such as WhatsApp, SMS based alert system, use of Radio Collaring of elephant among others are used to minimize elephant depredation.”
Elephant menace is visible in as many as sixteen states across India including Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Nagaland and Mizoram in Northeast.
According to government records, Assam recorded fifth highest (31) human casualties due to elephant attack in 2017-18.
As many as 42 people died in Odisha, 41 people died in West Bengal followed by 38 casualties in Jharkhand and 36 deaths in Tamil Nadu.
Interestingly, highest numbers of human casualties (91) were reported from Assam in 2016-17.
The official said that the ministry had taken several steps to minimise the man-elephant conflicts.
“Improvement of National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuary, Critical habitat, including Elephant Reserves and Corridors is carried out regularly. We have also started use of used rails to create elephant proof barrier,” the official said.
The official further said that financial and technical assistance were provided to elephant range states under the Centrally Sponsored Schemes ‘Project Elephant’. “Elephant range states notify the critical elephant habitats as “Elephant Reserves” for better management of wild elephants. So far 29 Elephant Reserves have been established in 14 States,” the official added.
Elephant is listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, to provide it highest degree of legal protection.