That, at least 34 elephants were killed in the country in a year, shows the negligence of authority’s to protect the lives of the wild animals, according to a shadow investigation report.
Illegal activities in forests, various farms, enclosures, electricity connections and different other activities have created an extreme threat to elephants and other wildlife, it stated.
The investigation, conducted by Bangladesh Nature Conservation Alliance (BNCA), a united platform of 33 environmental organisations, also made an 11-point recommendation to stop elephant killing at a press conference in the capital on Tuesday.
The report stated that the Forest Department cannot avoid responsibility as it played a poor role in stopping the killing of wildlife animals, adding it did not file any case in elephant killing incidents in 2021.
It suggested investigation of elephant killings either by Criminal Investigation Department (CID) or Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) to ensure culprits face the music.
Prof Dr Ahmad Kamruzzaman Majumder, convener of BNCA and chairman of Center for Atmospheric Pollution Studies (CAPS) of Stamford University, read the written statement at the press conference.
Muhammad Anowarul Hoque, secretary general of Save Our Sea; journalist Kefayet Shakil, member of the convening committee of BNCA; Rashed ul Majeed, chairman of Environment People, team members in the investigation, attended the press conference.
In December last year, the BNCA launched a shadow investigation into the recent incidents of elephant killing. It was carried out at Ramu of Cox’s Bazar and Sribhardi of Sherpur.
Referring to the Cox’s Bazar investigation, the shadow probe team said that more than half of the 13,065 acres of forestland in the Panerchhara and Dhoyapalang ranges of the Cox’s Bazar South Forest Department has been illegally occupied. However, the forest department has stated that the occupied area is only 1,202 acres.
Besides, corridors of elephant movement and their habitats have been destroyed due to various development activities on forestland. As a result, about 40 elephants are trapped in an area of about 100 acres, the probe team revealed.
Many elephants attack homes and farms due to acute shelter and food crises, the report said, adding that the elephant-human conflict in the area is increasing as a result which is prompting people to kill elephants.
According to the shadow investigation team, only 16 people are involved in the protection of 13,075 acres of forestland in Dhoyapalang and Panerchhara ranges, regular patrols, creation of forestry, and official activities.
The forest department lacks the capacity to protect elephants and other wild animals. However, the members of the Elephant Response Team (ERT) do not have an effective system to respond timely.
Expressing concern over elephant killing in the country, the BNCA made 11-point recommendations. These include forest department’s failure to protect forests, forestland and wildlife must be investigated and the culprits must be brought to justice; cases of elephant killings should be investigated by the CID or PBI; illegal occupants must be removed from the forest; and all departments of the government should be involved in the protection of wildlife by forming a national commission.
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