The Jumbo Troops, a leading wildlife conservation organization in North Bengal, has issued an urgent plea for immediate intervention to safeguard the migratory routes of elephants along the West Bengal-Nepal border. This call to action follows the tragic poaching of a 10-year-old male elephant in Bahuban, Mechinagar Municipality, Jhapa district, Nepal.
The elephant, crossing the Mechi River from West Bengal during its regular migration season, was found with fifteen musket shrapnels in its body. A postmortem conducted by veterinarians and technicians from the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve confirmed that the elephant died from gunshot injuries. This incident is the latest in a series of troubling events underscoring the perilous vulnerability of these majestic creatures.
Join us on WhatsApp, click here
Earlier this year, on April 16, a 45-year-old male elephant was discovered dead in Kalika Community Forest, Mechinagar Municipality, Nepal. The elephant’s tusks were missing, and a postmortem revealed it was killed by poachers using a musket. Similarly, on January 1, another wild elephant was killed in Janajagaran Community Forest, Morang district, Nepal, with gunshot wounds and its tail severed.
Data from the Division Forest Office in Jhapa shows that 21 wild elephants have been killed in Jhapa over the past two decades, predominantly male elephants, suggesting a targeted motive behind these poaching activities, claimed The Jumbo Troops in a statement. The Jumbo Troops suspect an organized racket of smugglers is behind these heinous crimes, driven by the high market value of elephant tusks and tail hair.
Also Read: In a first, Royal Bengal Tiger sighted in Sikkim’s Yali forest
“Without constructive dialogue with our neighbouring country, we risk losing our precious wild animals each year. Collaborative efforts between India and Nepal are essential to ensure the safety and conservation of this magnificent wildlife,” states Rikjyoti Singha Roy, Founder of The Jumbo Troops.
The Jumbo Troops are urgently requesting the following actions:
Thorough Investigation: Conduct a comprehensive investigation into the recent incidents and coordinate with Nepali authorities to uncover the facts surrounding the killing of elephants in Jhapa.
Collaborative Framework: Establish a collaborative framework with Nepal to protect the migration routes of Indian elephants and prevent future incidents.
Strengthen Cross-Border Communication: Enhance cross-border communication and cooperation between the forest departments of both countries to effectively address wildlife conservation issues.
The Jumbo Troops emphasize that the protection of wildlife heritage is a shared responsibility. They urge authorities to take prompt action to ensure the preservation of natural habitats and migration routes of elephants.
