Five orphaned elephant calves go back to the wild in Manas, India

07/02/2011 09:06:06

National Park rebuilding its name after years of civil unrest

February 2011: Five orphaned elephant calves have been relocated from the Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC) for reintegration with wild herds in Manas National Park in the northeast Indian state of Assam.

BACK TO THE WILD: The young elephants had a 12-hour journey to their new home

The move, which happened at the end of last month, is a crucial step in the rehabilitation of these calves in the wild. It was carried out being implemented by the Assam Forest Department and International Fund for Animal Welfare - Wildlife Trust of India (IFAW-WTI) with the support of the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC).

‘Assam Forest Department is making all efforts to contain human-elephant conflicts in the state and help conserve this national heritage animal,' said Suresh Chand, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) and Chief Wildlife Warden, Government of Assam.

Many people are frightened of human/elephant conflict
‘Rescue and rehabilitation of these wild elephant calves jointly by the Forest Department and International Fund for Animal Welfare - Wildlife Trust of India (IFAW-WTI) is a significant step in this direction,' he added.

Kampa Borgoyari, of the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC), which helped support the elephants' move, said: ‘We are glad that IFAW-WTI have brought the orphaned elephants to Manas. We understand that some people are apprehensive about the move, and we acknowledge their fear of increase in human-elephant conflict, but we are implementing measures to mitigate this.'

The calves, one female and four males between the age of three and five years, were rescued under various circumstances from different parts of Assam.

All of these calves were separated from their natal herds - two were victims of conflicts with people, one was displaced during floods, while the remaining two were found in tea gardens. They were admitted to CWRC for rehabilitation as they could not be reunited with their herds.

The elephant calves had a 12-hour journey from the rehabilitation centre to Manas, and were monitored by CWRC veterinarians and animal keepers.

Keepers will still keep a careful watch

SAYING GOODBYE: Their keepers will continue to  keep an eye on the five youngsters

At Manas, the calves are now undergoing a prolonged habituation process. Their behaviour, interactions with others and other wild elephants will be observed and recorded during this period, as they grow independent of their keeper. Once the calves completely detach from their keeper and return to the wild, they will be monitored through radio-collars. 

‘We're very pleased to see these elephants walking the forests of Manas National Park. This is a vital step towards their reintegration to the wild but there are still many hurdles to overcome. Our "soft release" programme will allow elephants to gradually become fully independent at their own pace,' said Ian Robinson, IFAW Emergency Relief Director.

Civil unrest has taken its toll on the park
Eight elephant calves, hand-raised at CWRC have earlier been relocated and released in Manas similarly, as part of this Elephant Reintegration Project. Four of them have established themselves in the wild.

‘Manas has always been an area of high conservation priority, as indicated by the epithets it holds - a national park, a tiger reserve and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Surviving a rough phase during the civil unrest when among other losses, its entire population of rhinos was wiped out, and in the face of threats of losing its world heritage status, Manas is now regaining its fame through proactive initiatives by the government and the people,' said Vivek Menon, Executive Director, WTI.

In 2006, rhinos were brought back to Manas for the first time since the local population was extirpated.