Gaps emerge in jumbo protection at Bandhavgarh reserve

After the death of 10 elephants suspected to be poisoned in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve in October-end, gaps have emerged that point out to the lackadaisical approach adopted by the Madhya Pradesh Forest Department even in the past towards elephant conservation.

In 2022, an elephant carcass was found in the tiger reserve. The Range Forest Officer and two Forest Guards burnt the carcass and did not inform the superiors about the death of the elephant. It was only after the video went viral that action was taken against the officials two years later in July 2024.

Wildlife activist Ajay Dubey who raised an alarm over the death of 10 elephants in the reserve said this is the first time that a herd of elephants was wiped out in one go.

He said had the Forest Department investigated the case of 2022, it would have helped crack the present death of the elephants in the reserve. “In 2022, when the carcass of the elephant was burnt, the senior officials of the Forest Department were let off and the juniors were made sacrificial lambs. The case requires thorough investigation to ascertain if it was a case of poaching,” he said.

For decades, there were no elephant herds in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve. In the past few years, herds have started moving into the reserve from Chhattisgarh.

Dubey said that pesticides are used in large amounts in the villages surrounding the tiger reserve and there could be a possibility that some people might have taken advantage of this fact and deliberately killed the 10 elephants.

“It is to be investigated that in the absence of the present Field Director Gaurav Choudhary who was on leave, who was taking care of the reserve. The officials had destroyed about 10 acres of kodo millet crop in the surrounding area. Is this not destruction of evidence if the elephants died due to eating it?” Dubey claimed.

Field director suspended

Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav said the government has suspended the Field Director of Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve in the case of death of 10 elephants. “According to the primary information, we have not got anything on the use of pesticides on crops. The post-mortem examination report will be sent to us in 2-3 days. Bandhavgarh’s Field Director has been suspended,” he said.