77
damage to life and property (Katariya 2018). Forest officials and residents of the
districts Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia are following a practice of throwing fire
torches on the elephants that stray away from their paths known locally as ‘Hula
Pati’, and this mechanism has been followed for more than a decade (Katariya
2018). It is understood that this is a problematic situation, but still it should be noted
that the lives of these animals are also under risk as many of them suffer burns and
injuries when fire torches are thrown at them (Katariya 2018). Supreme Court in
November, 2018 recognized this inhumane practice prevalent in several parts of
West Bengal and observed that violence is not the only way of tackling the entry of
elephants into human settlements and agricultural land (Katariya 2018). The article
says that the Supreme court restrained the west Bengal government from processing
tenders issued by it for the supply of burnt mobile oil to stray away elephants
(Katariya 2018).
West Bengal has blocked Mahilong (Jharkhand)-Kalimati (West Bengal);
Chandil (Jharkhand)-Matha (West Bengal); Jhunjhaka (Jharkhand)-Banduan (West
Bengal); Dalapani (Jharkhand)-Kankrajhore (West Bengal) corridors by ‘Energized
fence’, ‘Elephant Proof Trench’ since July 2016 (Basu 2017). The above-mentioned
unethical mismanagement has caused limited resource availability to this longranging animal and also increased the depredation in the corridor-dependent villages. The Mahilong (Jharkhand)-Kalimati (West Bengal) corridor is a source of
connectivity used by a small herd of approximately more than 18 elephants
that migrates till the forest of ‘Ajodhya Hilltop’ (Basu 2017). This corridor is an
ecologically suitable habitat for the elephants throughout the year. The ChandilMuri railwaytrack and hydro-electric plant are considered to be a big threats to the
movement of elephants and make the forest fragmented and degraded (Basu 2017).
This corridor maintains connectivity between the Mahilong and Bundu Ranges of
Ranchi Forest Division and Kalimati Reserve Forest of Purulia Forest Division and
is 18 km long and 0–0.5 km wide (Right to passage: Elephant corridors of India,
2017). There are several observed threats to this corridor such as many densely
populated villages are located in the vicinity of the corridor, agricultural lands are
also present within these corridors, also a portion of the Chandil-Muri railway track
bisects the corridor (Right to passage: Elephant corridors of India, 2017). An elephant was found dead after being hit by a train near Bhusudih village in 2008; also,
a hydro-electric project setup in the Ayodhya Hills near Baghmundi hinders the
movement of elephants from the Hensla Protected Forest to the Ayodhya hill ranges
(Right to passage: Elephant corridors of India, 2017). The Chandil (Jharkhand)Matha (West Bengal) and Jhunjhaka (Jharkhand)-Banduan (West Bengal) corridor
forest is occasionally used by elephants for their migration (Basu 2017). These corridors are also highly fragmented by human settlements, agricultural lands and railway tracks/roads and similarly threatened by timber poachers and forest fire (Basu
2017). The Chandil-Matha provides connectivity between the Chandil Range of
Saraikela Forest Division and the Matha Range of Purulia Forest Division and is
16 km long and 1–2 km wide (Right to passage: Elephant corridors of India, 2017).
The corridor includes 16 villages and agricultural lands of the villagers have disconnected the corridor forests between the Gundu and Ramnagar Protected Forests and
4 Habitat Linkages for Asian Elephants in Central Indian Landscape
damage to life and property (Katariya 2018). Forest officials and residents of the
districts Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia are following a practice of throwing fire
torches on the elephants that stray away from their paths known locally as ‘Hula
Pati’, and this mechanism has been followed for more than a decade (Katariya
2018). It is understood that this is a problematic situation, but still it should be noted
that the lives of these animals are also under risk as many of them suffer burns and
injuries when fire torches are thrown at them (Katariya 2018). Supreme Court in
November, 2018 recognized this inhumane practice prevalent in several parts of
West Bengal and observed that violence is not the only way of tackling the entry of
elephants into human settlements and agricultural land (Katariya 2018). The article
says that the Supreme court restrained the west Bengal government from processing
tenders issued by it for the supply of burnt mobile oil to stray away elephants
(Katariya 2018).
West Bengal has blocked Mahilong (Jharkhand)-Kalimati (West Bengal);
Chandil (Jharkhand)-Matha (West Bengal); Jhunjhaka (Jharkhand)-Banduan (West
Bengal); Dalapani (Jharkhand)-Kankrajhore (West Bengal) corridors by ‘Energized
fence’, ‘Elephant Proof Trench’ since July 2016 (Basu 2017). The above-mentioned
unethical mismanagement has caused limited resource availability to this longranging animal and also increased the depredation in the corridor-dependent villages. The Mahilong (Jharkhand)-Kalimati (West Bengal) corridor is a source of
connectivity used by a small herd of approximately more than 18 elephants
that migrates till the forest of ‘Ajodhya Hilltop’ (Basu 2017). This corridor is an
ecologically suitable habitat for the elephants throughout the year. The ChandilMuri railwaytrack and hydro-electric plant are considered to be a big threats to the
movement of elephants and make the forest fragmented and degraded (Basu 2017).
This corridor maintains connectivity between the Mahilong and Bundu Ranges of
Ranchi Forest Division and Kalimati Reserve Forest of Purulia Forest Division and
is 18 km long and 0–0.5 km wide (Right to passage: Elephant corridors of India,
2017). There are several observed threats to this corridor such as many densely
populated villages are located in the vicinity of the corridor, agricultural lands are
also present within these corridors, also a portion of the Chandil-Muri railway track
bisects the corridor (Right to passage: Elephant corridors of India, 2017). An elephant was found dead after being hit by a train near Bhusudih village in 2008; also,
a hydro-electric project setup in the Ayodhya Hills near Baghmundi hinders the
movement of elephants from the Hensla Protected Forest to the Ayodhya hill ranges
(Right to passage: Elephant corridors of India, 2017). The Chandil (Jharkhand)Matha (West Bengal) and Jhunjhaka (Jharkhand)-Banduan (West Bengal) corridor
forest is occasionally used by elephants for their migration (Basu 2017). These corridors are also highly fragmented by human settlements, agricultural lands and railway tracks/roads and similarly threatened by timber poachers and forest fire (Basu
2017). The Chandil-Matha provides connectivity between the Chandil Range of
Saraikela Forest Division and the Matha Range of Purulia Forest Division and is
16 km long and 1–2 km wide (Right to passage: Elephant corridors of India, 2017).
The corridor includes 16 villages and agricultural lands of the villagers have disconnected the corridor forests between the Gundu and Ramnagar Protected Forests and
4 Habitat Linkages for Asian Elephants in Central Indian Landscape