Massive opposition to shifting of elephants
   Date :19-Jan-2022

elephants
 
 
By Kaushik Bhattacharya :
 
Forest Department informed MoEF&CC about the massive protest erupted against the shifting of 13 elephants from Kamlapur and TATR to Reliance’s Green Zoo in Gujarat n NGO Kamlapur-Patanil Hatti Camp Vachva Mohim sends legal notice to MoEF&CC 
 
Even as the Maharashtra forest department got permission from Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) for shifting of 13 elephants from Kamalapur, Patanil Elephant Camp and Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) to Gujarat, the protest against the shifting of elephants has intensified and it has now turned into a state-wide campaign. As per the sources, the elephants will be shifted to Reliance’s Green Zoological Rescue and Rehabilitation Kingdom in Gujarat and the process of shifting will start by January end. The elephants were brought to Kamlapur for the purpose of timber logging. These elephants have been kept at the camp since their use for timber logging was stopped. At present, there are four elephants from Kamlapur Camp, three from Patanil Camp in Gadchiroli and 6 from TATR to be shifted to the Centre at Gujarat.
 
“We received orders from the Ministry for shifting of elephants but we will delay the process of shifting due to recent protests in the region. We already informed the Ministry about the protest and objections raised by citizens and the further decision will be made by the Central Government,” Sunil Limaye, PCCF (Wildlife) told The Hitavada. “We have lack of proper manpower to take care of the elephants here and the tuskers are also untrained. In Gujarat they have proper Transit Treatment Centre and the management will take proper care of the elephants,” said Limaye. PCCF said, “The government has also plans to replace the trained elephants from Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and other states to Maharashtra. It is a good decision to get elephants from other states and the process to replace the elephants is underway.” There are seven elephants of different age-groups live in Kamlapur Elephant Camp. The camp started way back in 1960 when four elephants were brought to the camp from Nashik for transportation of logs of huge trees .
 
These four elephants included Vimala, Basanti, Ranjit, and Mahalinga. Presently, only Basanti is alive with her younger ones. Though this place is remote, locals employed on daily-wages are appointed here to take care of the elephants. The elephants require 45 kgs of rice, five kgs of jaggery, one litre oil, and one kg salt daily for their diet. Nature has showered all its blessings on this place – hillocks forming the backdrop of elongated lake, grassland nearby, rich botanical biodiversity, serenity, beautiful birds with their chirping songs. Kamlapur of Gadchiroli district is the only camp for elephants in Maharashtra. Due to the scenic beauty of the place and the natural habitat of the elephants, the protest erupted at a massive level. Suresh Chopane, Member, MoEF&CC said, “It is right that forest department has monitory crunch to take care of these elephants in Kamlapur. But, instead of shifting these elephants into a zoo from their natural habitat, the government should provide fund to conserve these wild animals into their natural habitat.”
 
Chopane said, “People in Gadchiroli were not in favour of wildlife conservation in their region but this time these elephants brought every people of Gadchiroli together for their conservation in Kamlapur which is a good thing wildlife.” Protest turns into a social media campaign Non-Government Organisations (NGO), wildlife activists and people have started a social media campaign to stop the shifting of elephants from its natural habitat. Change.org, a NGO, started a online referendum “I Support Hatti Camp” in which more than 2,800 people sighed the petition so far. Similarly, ‘Hashtag’ campaigns also commenced on Twitter and Facebook in the name of “#SaveKAMLAPUR” and “#SaveHATTICAMP”. The social media campaign getting support not only from Maharashtra but also from all over the country. Foresters, wildlife experts, wildlife enthusiasts and researchers showing their support through tweets. Many social media users posting photographs of elephants and the nature of Kamlapur to show their support. Many users tagged Ministers and MOEF&CC with photographs to stop the shifting.
 
NGO sends legal notice to MOEF&CC Kamlapur-Patanil Hatti Camp Vachva Mohim, a campaign which initiated in support of elephant conservation in Kamlapur camp send a legal notice to the Project Elephant Division of MoEF&CC, Government of India recently. In the legal notice, Adv Asim Sarode stated that there is no need to shift the elephants as they are already in their natural habitat from last many decades. Instead of this the forest department should arrange fund for the conservation of these elephants. the notice also stated that the Ministry should reply the notice within seven days of receipt or else the NGO will be left with no option to initiate legal proceeding against the decision.