Elephant, man clashes on rise
Says forest conservator
Continuous destruction of elephant habitats, deforestation, extension of agricultural land and encroachment on elephant resources have led to rising number of clashes between humans and the large mammals, said Tapan Kumar Dey, conservator of forests.
He said between 2003 and 2010, a total of 180 people were killed in elephant attacks across the country while humans killed 47 elephants.
He was addressing a workshop on “Elephant Conservation in Bangladesh†organised by Strengthening Regional Co-operation for Wildlife Protection Project at the forest head office in the capital's Agargaon, said a press release.
The forest conservator said the forest department announced seven areas -- Chunoti, Pablakhali, Teknaf, Sanshu, Dhudhpukuria-Dhopchhari, Fasiakhali, and Kaptai National Orchard -- as wildlife sanctuaries for elephant protection.
Initiatives will be taken in India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh to protect the endangered Asian elephants, said the press release.
Rabi Chellam, adviser to Asian Nature Conservation Foundation in India, Ishtiaq Uddin Ahmad, Bangladesh country representative at International Union for Conservation of Nature, Chief Forest Conservator Md Yunus Ali, Farid Uddin Ahmed, executive director of Aranyak Foundation, spoke at the ceremony among others.
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