The New Indian Express ·
Madhya Pradesh turns to southern, eastern states for jumbos to manage tiger reserves
BHOPAL: With wildlife populations steadily rising across the tiger reserves and national parks in Madhya Pradesh, the state forest department has turned to four states in southern and eastern India, seeking healthy, trained captive elephants that can be deployed for patrolling, rescue operations and managing human-wildlife conflicts in difficult terrain.
Sameeta Rajora, the state’s principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife) and chief wildlife warden, has written to her counterparts in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and West Bengal. She has asked them to assess in their respective states whether any spare elephants from their camps for the jumbos could be made available for transfer and rehabilitation to Madhya Pradesh.
The request comes as the state seeks to strengthen its field force in areas where conventional patrol vehicles and personnel often face limitations. In her communication, Rajora has cited the steady increase in wildlife populations in the central Indian state’s tiger reserves and national parks.
