Elephant Research and Conservation Project2. ELEPHANT PROJECT IN MANAS NATIONAL
PARK
The project on elephant research and conservation was initiated in October
2005 in Manas National Park (MNP) within Chirang-Ripu elephant reserve to
minimize the gap of scientific data on elephants and human-elephant
conflict for proper management and conservation in near future. The first
phase (2005-06) of the project was named as “A study of habitat
utilization patterns of Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) and current
status of human elephant conflict in Manas National park within
Chirang-Ripu Elephant Reserve, Assam” that has already been
successfully completed and the second phase (2007-08) named-
“Conservation of Asian Elephant Elephas maximus
through Research, Education and Community participation in Manas National
Park, India” is under operation that deals with the distribution,
seasonal habitat usage pattern, assessment of population structure,
monitoring of human-elephant conflict involving local people, assisting
community to address the immediate threats of conflict, capacity building
of local youth, women and local NGO members, and experimentation with
elephant deterrent alternative cash crops (citrus). This project has been supported by the US
Fish Wildlife Service.
Various Activities under the
Project: Elephant density estimation, patterns of seasonal movement and habitat utilization in different habitats has been doing through dung survey using line transects. A GIS based habitat stratification (low density, medium density and high density) has also been doing on both spatial and temporal scales with reference to density of population of elephants using retrospective method. The details human-elephant conflict survey has been going on by regular field visits and through data maintained by Forest Department. A GIS based land cover map of fringe villages is being developed along with stratification of conflict and non-conflict villages. Training programmes have been organized for different stakeholders to enhance capacity on conservation of elephant and diversified livelihood options. We have selected five maximum conflict villages in the fringe area as model village and formed Village Anti-depredation Committees (VAC) on experiment basis. The basic concept of formation of VAC was to manage the human-elephant conflict issue in a scientific, more systematic and collaborative way. We are also assisting the local community to address the immediate threats of conflict by providing search lights, installing trip wire alarm systems and erecting highland watch towers. The local community is constantly being encouraged to cultivate alternative cash crop (like citrus) to compensate the annual crop loss. This effort was initiated during the first phase in Bansbari range and now introduced to Bhuyanpara range too.
Capacity building of field biologists Capacity building of the biologists involved in this project to meet the manpower need to sustain this programme and future challenges have also been undertaken. Naba K Nath who is looking after the human-elephant conflict part of the project has gained extensive knowledge and technical ideas during his recent visit to Sri Lanka. Jyoti P Das, the other field researcher who is looking after the elephant ecology too got enough exposure on data analysis during his internship period at Zoological Society of London, UK.
What will we do in the future?
The Manas National Park is an important and one of the last remaining substantial habitats of endangered Asian elephants. Aaranyak would like to continue its research on ecology, movement and distribution of elephant in MNP to assist long-term management regime. We are planning to develop more community interface programme to involve local communities and village level institution around Manas National Park through this project. More over the conservation action part, development of alternative cash crop of the project will take couple of years as such activity is new for villagers. Download Final Project Report (PDF, size 2.5mb)
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