After death of 20 tigers, 10 elephants, report points out gaps at Bandhavgarh reserve

An inspection report of the Union Environment Ministry has revealed that there were gaps in forest management and adequate measures against tiger poaching were not in place at Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh.

The tiger reserve had witnessed the death of 10 elephants in October; and 20 tigers in 2021-23.

While the inspection was conducted by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), a statutory body under the Environment Ministry to protect tigers, in June, the report was finally prepared on November 26, a month after the death of the elephants.

“The tiger reserve has a good network of protection huts and ‘nakas’ manned by daily wage labourers. But the condition of protection huts and ‘nakas’ is not up to the mark. Upkeep, solar lighting, water toilet facilities need improvement. All infrastructure of Bandhavgarh tiger reserve needs to be retrofitted to become elephant-proof. Being so near to the home of traditional hunting communities like Bahelia, Bandhavgarh tiger reserve needs active surveillance for organised poaching,” the report said. The ministry also said that waste management plans at the reserve are “not up to the mark”.

The NTCA had suggested to the Madhya Pradesh Forest Department to take punitive measures in the conservation of elephants. “The management of elephants in the landscape should be an integral part of the conservation plan for the tiger reserve officials,” the report said.

According to the toxicology report of the 10 elephants which died at the tiger reserve, the jumbos had consumed a large quantity of kodo millet plants that were infected with a fungus.

However, the ministry in its inspection report had suggested to the Madhya Pradesh Forest Department to work on grassland management.