Elephants enter Sirmaur from Uttarakhand, UP borders

Elephants enter Himachal Pradesh from the inter-state forest borders of Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh, putting the lives of residents, property and crops in danger. More than seven elephants are reportedly moving in various parts of the Majra and Girinagar forest ranges of Paonta Sahib forest division and the Kolar range of Nahan forest division in Sirmaur district, reports say. The elephant movement, linked to the current cropping season, has prompted the Forest Department to activate anti-depredation measures to prevent human-elephant conflicts in the region.

Preventing human-elephant conflict

• The elephant movement has prompted the Forest Department to activate measures to prevent human-elephant conflicts in the region.
• The forest division field staff have held meetings with the affected locals and nearby forest communities to give them guidelines on how to stay safe and avoid loss of life and property.
• Vasanth Kiran Babu, Conservator of Forests, Nahan, says the closure of traditional elephant corridors in Uttarakhand and UP due to the ongoing construction of the Dehradun-Delhi highway has forced elephants from the Rajaji National Park to migrate to Sirmaur

In view of two fatalities in the past two years and suspicious deaths of elephants, the Central Government has brought the Paonta Sahib and Nahan forest divisions of Sirmaur district under the Project Elephant initiative, which aims to reduce human-animal conflicts. These are the only areas in Himachal Pradesh that have been included in the project.

The field staff from the Majra, Girinagar and Kolar ranges have held meetings with the affected local people and nearby forest communities in Bharapur, Girinagar, Batamandi, Majra and Bhedewala. These meetings focused on informing and preparing the communities for potential elephant encounters and giving them essential guidelines on how to stay safe and avoid loss of life and property.

Vasanth Kiran Babu, Conservator of Forests, Nahan, says that the elephant movement has increased recently due to the closure of traditional elephant corridors in Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh due to the ongoing construction of the Dehradun-Delhi four-lane highway. This has forced elephants from the Rajaji National Park to migrate to Sirmaur district, where they have caused significant damage to crops, homes and claimed human lives, too.

The Forest Department’s anti-depredation teams have been mobilised to track elephants. In coordination with local residents, these teams are actively monitoring elephant movements and issuing warnings through various channels. Loudspeaker announcements are being made and pamphlets have been distributed in villages, outlining the dos and don’ts when faced with elephant activity.

The department has activated the Animal Intrusion Detection and Repellent System in key areas such as Dhaula Kuan and Fandi Koti and in few other areas of the Kolar forest range. Early warning system, which includes vehicle-mounted loudspeakers, have been designed to give residents ample notice of the elephants’ approach, allowing them to take necessary precautions. The initiative seeks to ensure that the local population remains alert, minimising the risk of accidents or damage to crops and property.

To raise awareness about human-elephant conflicts, special attention is being given to villages within the Girinagar range.

In the Majra forest range, which includes villages under Majra block, similar awareness campaigns are underway. The focus remains on ensuring that no lives are endangered and damage to crop and property is minimised. Given the increasing likelihood of elephant movement due to the cropping season, the Forest Department has urged local communities to be vigilant and report any elephant sighting to the department immediately.