Reminiscences

Reminiscences 2017 A New Home Range of Elephants-- Dudhwa National Park R.S.Bhadauria, Ex- Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, U.P. In India, wild elephants are found in four zones of population, generally known as (1) Northern Population- inhabiting forests of undivided U.P. ( now U.P. and Uttarakhand), (2) North Eastern Population- spread in the forests of West Bengal, Sikkim and North Eastern States( seven sisters)- namely Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura, (3) South Eastern Population-- roaming in the forests of (3) Odissa, Chhattis Garh, and Jharkhand and (4) Southern Population- wandering in the (4) Forests of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Thus U.P. had the unique distinction of being a single home range state, of Northern Population, where the preferred habitat of elephants has been Sal forests, on the slopes of shiwalik hills and Bhabhar tract, lying between Yamuna river in the west and Sharda river near Tanakpur in the east. Surprisingly enough, Tarai Sal forests, east of Tanakpur-- Khatima, corridor, starting from erstwhile Pilibhit forest division up to Gorakhpur forest division, remained devoid of elephants, while wild elephants abounded in Nepal forests, across the international border, just above this forest belt in India. The reason ascribed for avoiding Tarai forests of U.P. by both- the Indian side and Nepal side elephants, has been, the slushy and marshy conditions prevailing in Tarai forests, which elephants fear for getting stuck in to it. Nepal forests, across the border were akin to our Bhabhar forests, where the ground was comparatively drier and harder than Tarai slushy ground. But in sixties, Nepal Govt. started cutting and clearing the forests all along Indian border and settling ex- army personnel over there, as a precautionary measure to obviate any possibility of perceived Indian armed attack. Under the camouflaged cover of forest belt along the border. The forest area on Nepal side was thus converted in to farm land, (except some forests left, across Katarniaghat, known as Bardia Reserve ), destroying elephant habitat and also impacting the surface water regime of that area, drying up numerous seasonal and perennial rivulets and streams, which originated from Nepal forests and flowed down, through U.P. Tarai belt including Dudhwa area. This ecological and edaphic change over the years, is discernible now very clearly in Dudhwa forests also where perennial rivers of yester years have turned in to seasonal streams and seasonal ones either disappeared or turned in to rainy season drains. Removal of adjacent thick cover of forests on Nepal side has not only impacted the surface water bodies but also impacted the overall sub- soil water regime creating drier conditions, with consequential effect on the web of floral and faunal status of U.P. Tarai, including Dudhwa forests. There is apparent reduction in slushy and marshy conditions compared to several decades earlier. Clearing of forests on Nepal side, forced the elephants inhabiting that area, to search for alternative habitats and Dudhwa forests being closer and easily accessible, from Nepal side, provided answer to their search. Initially their forays were limited to singles and twos or threes, which went back after short stays., but gradually they adapted themselves to Dudhwa forest conditions, then started coming in small herds and stayed for longer periods. Thereafter Dudhwa turning into a National Park, in 1977, became more favorable habitat and some elephants started living, all the year round. Available census figures, reproduced below indicate the trend of migration of elephants into Dudhwa N.P. Year of census 1976 1982 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2013 Now No. counted 25 5 34 16 6 5 4 32 70 > 100 Analysis of aforesaid census figures suggests that until the turn of last century, elephants visiting Dudhwa forests were migratory in nature as they kept on shuttling between fragmented forests in Nepal and Dudhwa forests. It was perhaps a coincidence during the years, 1976 and 1993 that sizeable herds were staying in Dudhwa forests at the time of census, whereas during other years most of the elephants may have migrated out of Dudhwa before the census, and only few stragglers, may be elderly ones, remained behind. However after the turn of century, the migratory population turned in to resident population and their numbers started swelling. Bonhomie between Wild and Domesticated An old and retired Dudhwa Mahaut- Lallan Bux, recollects that stray cases of wild elephants visiting Dudhwa forests were noticed in late sixties, but they went back to Nepal side after short stay. This was the period when clearing of Nepal forests across the border in Nepal started and elephants too, started dispersing to alternative habitats like Dudhwa. Since they were migratory in nature, and their forays remained confined to border areas of Dudhwa Park, hence these new visitors, neither attracted much attention nor made much news. It was in early eighties, when I learnt as Addl. Chief Wild Life Warden U.P. that a wild tusker came up to Dudhwa campus, and two females from Dudhwa elephant camp, namely Raj Begum and Harihar Pyari eloped with the tusker and had to be rescued separately,-- the former after one day and the later, after 3 days. This incident scared Dudhwa staff and particularly Mahauts, who thought they may lose some elephants if such intrusions were repeated. Nevertheless this incident got wide publicity and wild elephants in Dudhwa came to be recognized as part of animal population, though still migratory, yet their regular census started. After this forced, broken marriage, between the wild and the domesticated, wild tuskers started foraying in to elephant camps of Dudhwa, Salukapur and Base camp ( an elephant camp set up, in 1984, near Kakraha Rhino release area), and between 1997-98 up to 2013, seven females of the camps mated with wild tuskers and delivered calves. Although wild herds of elephants had adult females, yet male tuskers have been frequenting elephant camps to mate with tamed females, who otherwise were spinsters, as elephant camps do not keep males, due to their wild behaviour during Masth period. Mahauts also did not interfere in such conjugal relationships, as their initial fear of females being abducted by wild tuskers proved wrong. The tuskers mated with females in estrus in the camp itself and went back in the forest. This unexpected benign behaviour of wild tuskers proved a boon instead of bane, as Dudhwa became a breeding centre for elephants without any preplanning and efforts, to get calves of wild origin, genetically stronger with diverse heterozygosity. Interestingly Dudhwa Park records testify births of seven such calves, sired by 5 different wild tuskers at different times, but unfortunately 4 calves died and only 3 survived to augment Dudhwa's domesticated stock. In order to chronologize such rare events in the annals of history of Wild life, it is worth while quoting these events here as under:- In 1997-98 Pavankali in Salukapur camp, delivered a female calf named laxmi which died after 28 months, due to some disease. (2) In 1998-99 Pushpkali of Dudhwa camp, delivered a male calf named Batalik, which grew in to a sturdy adult and is performing riding duty in the park.(3) In the year 2001, Roopkali of Base camp KLakraha, delivered a male calf which died after 3 months.(4) In 2007, Roopkali in Salukapur camp, again delivered a female calf but the calf died after 41 days. (5) In 2011, Roopkali in Salukapur, again delivered a female calf which died soon after. (6) In Aug. 2013, Chameli in Dudhwa camp, delivered a male calf named Vinayak, which is healthy and growing. (7) In Nov. 2013, Sulochna in Dudhwa camp, delivered a female calf named Suheli which is healthy and growing. The survival pattern of calves, among aforementioned births, indicates that even in human care, the survival percentage of elephant's off springs is not good, then in wild conditions it should be still worse. Surprisingly Roopkali, lost all the off springs and the reason cited is that she is lactation deficient mother and babies died of hunger. This kin of genetic incapability amongst elephants, coupled with long gestation period of about 20 months and long gap of 4 yrs or more, between successive deliveries, may be reasons for slow growth rate of elephant population. This in fact is nature's self controlled mechanism, to restrict the population of nature 's biggest consumer of plants, as an adult elephant consumes about 3 Qtls. of green fodder daily and in the process, while foraging in the forest, destroys by bending/ breaking many trees mid sized trees, bearing choice leaf fodder. It is also note worthy that wild tuskers, visiting the elephant camps have never harmed any animal nor damaged any property and also mated with consenting female there itself. Five different tuskers were identified in siring activity in different camps at different times and only one tusker at a time, visited the camp, perhaps to avoid any fight/duet between two rivals to possess the female in estrus. Elephants as Resident Population Elephants in Dudhwa, now roam about all over the park but prefer to stay longer at Banke Tal .in South Sonaripur range, Bhadi and Chauraila area in Belrayan range and Kaima & Amargarh area in Sathiana range. This choice of range is because of abundance of choice fodder and water available at these places. Elephants have now occasionally started crossing Suheli river- the southern fringe of the park, and stray over North Kheri forests, expanding there forage area. This part of forest is interspersed with farm lands, growing the choicest food of the elephants- the Sugar cane.

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