Odisha, India: 14 critical Elephant Corridors closer to protection in Odisha!
Odisha, India: 14 critical Elephant Corridors closer to protection in Odisha!
Form The Hindu: "The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Odisha government to prepare an action plan within three months on 14 identified elephant corridors for providing stress-free migration to jumbos from one habitation to another in the State."
Our thoughts and some background: In 2010, The Odisha government identified 14 critical elephant corridors covering over 870 sq. km and including three inter-state corridors, including West Bengal, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand. While the state spent Rs 20 crore to improve these corridors, they were not protected by law.
These corridors continue to be threatened by human settlements, roads, railway line, electric lines, canal and mining (per the government report). For the past ten years there have been successive attempts to formally protect these corridors. FYI: The Wildlife Trust of India has published a comprehensive list of 88 corridors throughout India that are critical to the long term survival of the Asian Elephant.
Why is this important? in 2020, as many 42 elephants died and 64 persons lost their lives in human/elephant conflict in Odisha.
