Source: Business Standard (from Indo Asian News Service (IANS))
Around 650 Asian elephants roam in West Bengal, a state in India that borders Bangladesh. Though West Bengal contains only 2% of the Indian elephant population, it accounts for a high percentage of deaths due to human-elephant conflict (HEC).
To combat this problem, the West Bengal government has established a volunteer program staffed with several hundred “friends of elephants,” or “gajamitras.” The gajamitras are youth situated throughout North and South Bengal, apportioned based on the number of HEC incidents in each area.
The gajamitras are issued android devices outfitted with a Gajamitra App, which alerts them in advance of elephant movement in their area. The volunteers then alert the appropriate authorities and together take measures to prevent HEC incidents.
HEC incidents are much higher in North Bengal, particularly around railroad tracks. North Bengal has established a related program that has placed sensors on railroad tracks. The sensors, when triggered by movement, send alarms to the nearest railway station and forest ranger office. The railway station then alerts conductors of any nearby moving trains, who then take the necessary measures to avoid hitting animals on the tracks.
The railway project is still in its pilot phase, but is being tested on a 50-km section of railway tracks with the highest number of elephant deaths due to train collision.
Want to advocate for West Bengal elephants?
Voice for Asian Elephants Society has worked with the forest department to implement the railway sensor program. Support their work by donating or getting involved however you can.
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