Chamarajanagar: The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has recommended to the Central Government that the Kaniyanapura forest, located near the Bandipur Tiger Reserve (BTR), be declared an elephant corridor. This recommendation has sparked a debate between wildlife conservationists and local residents regarding environmental protection, local livelihoods, and land rights.
This development follows the Central Government’s declaration of the Segur Elephant Corridor in the Nilgiri region of Tamil Nadu. That corridor connects Mudumalai National Park with the Bandipur-Wayanad forest area. The declaration imposes restrictions on the construction of luxury resorts and farmhouses within the corridor’s limits.
Warning of Increased Human-Elephant Conflict
In its report, the NTCA has expressed concern over the rising number of luxury resorts and farmhouses in the vicinity of the Bandipur Tiger Reserve. The Authority has also highlighted issues regarding electric fences and concrete compound walls, which obstruct the movement of elephants. The report also mentions that outsiders are purchasing land from local farmers for commercial purposes—specifically to construct resorts, hotels, and farmhouses. Such developments are likely to obstruct the movement of elephants, potentially escalating human-elephant conflict. Furthermore, the report warns that crop damage caused by wild elephants could also increase.
However, the NTCA has recommended that the declaration of an elephant corridor should not adversely affect local farmers or their livelihoods. It has also urged the strict enforcement of a 2012 government notification that prohibits the conversion of agricultural land in the Bandipur buffer zone for non-agricultural or commercial purposes.
Arguments For and Against the Proposal:
Wildlife activists have welcomed the proposed elephant corridor, believing it will significantly strengthen wildlife conservation efforts in the region. Conversely, farmers and local residents have expressed concern that these restrictions will prevent them from selling their land to outsiders at favorable prices. They argue that the farmhouses, hotels, and resorts built on their lands create employment opportunities and serve as a supplementary source of income.