Concrete jungle threat to jumbos

BANGALORE: Following the recent elephant scare on Bangalore-Mysore highway, where two elephants from Bannerghatta forests, while going to Savandurga forest, damaged a private property, the Forest Department plans to urge the state government to prevent the establishment of new layouts near elephant corridors on the outskirts of the city. Elephants, in search of food, foliage and water, travel about 20-25 km, through these forests. A few years ago, the elephant corridors consisted thick forests, many natural water bodies and vast agriculture fields, which served as natural protection for elephants. Construction of commercial establishments and other buildings is posing a threat to the fragmented elephant corridor on the city outskirts. A senior forest officer told Express that the dedicated elephant corridor does not exist now. The officer said, “Elephants move to different areas depending upon the availability of food and foliage. But, in the name of development, forest area is being taken away.”Bannerghatta Biological Park Executive Director Dr R Raju said, “The corridor is teleprinted in the minds of pachyderms as they have been taking this path for many years. They have good memory and the route cannot be erased easily from their memory.”  He said green belt zones protect wild animals. But, now these zones have paved way for concrete jungle. Elephants face constant threat from human beings. Recalling the recent scare, Raju said, “Elephants usually set out from Bannerghatta forest in the evening and reach their destination before sunrise. For the first time, their timing went astray. There is a need to protect the fragmented elephant corridor before it  vanishes.”