Mammoth, a lone tusker condemned by fate following the demise of his Makna companion a month ago, has continued to roam the forests of North Bengal in sorrow since then. The tusker’s travels through Apalchand, Targhera, Baikunthapur, and the Teesta basin were dangerous, thanks to human interference and neglect.
An Elephant Under Siege
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Recently, Mammoth entered Senpara in a newly created Madmine grid, and his humiliation began at the hands of a wild mob. For more than six hours, he was surrounded by thousands of people trying to record moments on their phones, oblivious to how much they were terrorizing the poor Mammoth. The giant had no way to escape this damned chaos; but eventually, it made its way out of the scene into the high forest but not before incurring even more injuries.
The elephant already had some corneal opacity in his left eye along with bruises all over on the head and hind legs. Now, the condition aggravated when the left eye was injured due to a JCB parked illegally in a mining zone. The forest department, bereft of any Rapid Response Team (RRT) or Quick Response Team (QRT), could only manage half-heartedly.
Human Negligence: The Real Threat
This tragic incident shows the harsh truth of human intrusion into wildlife territories. Elephants are worshipped in India, yet they are also pursued endlessly in their habitats. The selfie craze, with utter disregard for the well-being of wildlife, is now one major threat to this species.
Though a few NGOs have sought to initiate measures to create response teams for such emergencies regarding wildlife, their on-ground involvement is less than desired. No sincere intervention means more suffering for Mammoth and other elephants.
A Call for Urgent Action
If we are to share the space with wildlife, urgent steps have to be taken:
- Tighten The Wildlife Protection Act: Stricter laws must be enforced against illegal mining and unauthorized machinery in forest areas.
- Encouragement of Rapid Response: The forest department should ensure well-trained RRTs and QRTs are positioned to reduce human-elephant conflict situations.
- Public Awareness Campaign: Educating people is essential for teaching responsible wildlife behavior. Elephants are not fixtures of entertainment; they deserve respect and protection.
- Improved Medical Treatment and Monitoring for Elephants: Given the Mammoth’s deteriorating medical condition, special focus on medical treatment must be given by wildlife officials before it’s too late.
Mammoth’s tragedy now reminds us almost painfully of how human indiscretion is pushing wildlife toward the cliff. Do we let our apathy condemn their fate, or do we finally come up and act before yet another gentle giant succumbs to our negligence?
