The man-animal conflict has taken a toll on Guwahati's’s rich wildlife, which is dwindling, and dwindling fast. If experts are to be believed, doomsday for the city's wildlife population is only 10 years away unless remedial steps are taken immediately.
More than 40 elephants were killed due to poisoning, electrocution, train accident and bullet injury among other reasons during the past six years in Assam State.
Trains in Assam has killed or maimed several elephants, and more deaths are perceived as inevitable.
For a city which takes pride in 11 reserve forests -- one of the highest urban wildlife concentrations in the world -- there is no written plan till now for its management.
According to the field-level officials of Assam forest department, no effort has been made to develop a “strength-weakness-opportunity-threat framework” required for planning of wildlife conservation in and around Guwahati city.
Encroachment of forest land and spread of human habitation are compounding the problem.
Though the government had constituted the Guwahati Wildlife Division in January 2006 for effective management of wildlife conservation in the city, it still hasn’t been able to chalk out a plan for the management of urban wildlife.
More than 4000 sq km of reserve forest area in the state is under encroachment. Because of the disturbance of their natural habitats, these animals would invade human habitations.
For the elephants, the chances of survival are nil after being hit by a passenger or goods train travelling at a wicked speed.
Even if a train travelling at 40 kmph hits a full-grown animal, the beast would have its life snuffed out within minutes.
It is a battle between two ‘beasts’, and ironically the odds are overwhelming against the one endowed with grace and grandeur.
