Resources Himalaya Foundation and Environmental Graduates in Himalaya celebrated the World Elephant Day on August 12, 2022. A talk program on topic “Asian Elephant’s Habitat, Population, and its Co-Existence with Humans in Nepal” was organized with Dr. Ashok Kumar Ram, Conservation Officer at Bardia National Park, Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation.
Dr. Ram demonstrated that Nepal was with approximately 150 elephants distributed in four sub-population at the ancient time. According to elephant population census 2020, 203-277 elephants were recorded as the residential with that of 120-150 migratory, and 176 in captivity. Habitat loss and habitat fragmentation have become the major threats to elephant at present. Forest fragmentation is severe in the eastern region, alongwith human activities are found responsible for elephant attacks. He mentioned that there is increasing trend of human wildlife conflict affecting 20 districts, and 37 elephants exist as problematic in the Chure Terai Madhesh Landscape. Habitat management, human-elephant conflict management, different acts and plans with real time based monitoring of problematic elephants are needed for elephant conservation. Specifically, by changing human behaviors, fencing, insurance for crops and provision of reliefs for fatality human and elephants could prevail the co-existence. The presentation was followed by discussion session and ended with vote of thanks and closing remarks from Dr. Dinesh Neupane, Executive Director of Resources Himalaya Foundation.
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