Man-Elephant Conflict in West Midnapore, West Bengal

Abstract

In West Bengal, in the district of West Midnapore, Arabari is a well known forest, which is known as 'Model Community Forest'. It shares boundary with the famous Dalma forest of Jharkhand and as a result herds of Elephants often visit the Arabari forest range. After the initiation of 'Joint Forest Management' the movement in the forest areas revived with increase of forest cover. With the improvement of irrigation, production of multiple crops including cash crops also increased gradually. These increased productions, assured food for the migrating elephants; as a result number of elephants is increasing gradually. With the ever growing human population, the conflict between man and elephant is also increasing gradually. Practically the people used to drive out these elephants but not solving the problem permanently. It leads to a greater damage including loss of life of human, elephants and the growing crops. The present study is taken as an effort to realize the migration pattern of elephant, nature of damage of human property and natural wealth and to make a way out of these burning problems.