Heartwarming Triumph: Second Elephant Successfully Radio-Collared in Tamulpur Since November
In Tamulpur district near the Bhutan border, a significant conservation effort successfully fitted a female elephant from a herd of about 40 with a radio collar in the Bogajuli Reserve Forest. This marks the second such achievement in the area within two months. The operation, conducted in Bogajuli village under the Kumarikata Range, focused on collaring the female leader of the herd. The Kumarikata forest range experienced four human fatalities due to elephant encounters last year, prompting the forest department to employ satellite-based radio telemetry. This technology aims to track the herd’s movement across three districts along the Assam-Bhutan border, helping protect local communities from potential conflicts while studying the elephants’ migration patterns, diet, and behavior.
Overseen by Manas National Park director Dr. C Ramesh and other senior officials, the initiative seeks to mitigate human-elephant conflicts and avoid casualties by sending timely alerts to forest staff and villagers. Previously, in November, a male elephant was radio-collared in Tamulpur; wildlife experts note that males often exhibit more aggressive behavior when disturbed by humans. Collaring a female offers strategic benefits, as females typically stay with their herds, facilitating comprehensive group tracking.
Despite the male elephant separating from its 80-member herd, it remains nearby. Experts anticipate it will rejoin the herd soon, particularly after the paddy-harvesting season when food becomes scarce. Illegal electric fencing continues to obstruct traditional routes back to Bhutan, posing ongoing challenges. Consequently, the forest department plans to identify and address such unauthorized installations. The cost for each radio-collaring project ranges from Rs 7-8 lakh, and discussions are underway with the Tamulpur district administration and IIT Guwahati to develop more cost-effective, indigenous radio collars for wildlife tracking and conflict mitigation.
Original Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/guwahati/second-elephant-radio-collared-in-tamulpur-since-nov/articleshow/117002544.cms
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Publish Date: 2025-01-06 23:42:00
