SC issues notice to Uttaranchal on elephant deaths
December 12, 2006

Rajaji National Park (Uttaranchal), Dec 12 (ANI): The Supreme Court has issued a notice to Uttaranchal, calling for an explanation for the death of 125 elephants over the last five years.

The notice was sent to Uttaranchal and to the neighbouring state of Himachal Pradesh, following the filing of a case by a voluntary organisation working for the environment, which alleged that elephant poaching cases were on the rise.

Forest authorities, however, claim that they have not yet received the notice, but have learnt about it from media reports.

Srikant Chandola, the Chief Wildlife Warden of Uttaranchal, said there was no truth to the claim that 125 elephants had died at the hands of the poachers in the state.

"All that we know of the notice is from the newspapers, we have not yet received the notice. The newspapers said that 125 elephants were killed by poaching, whereas the fact is that there is nothing like this. This is groundless, it is also being said that these are government figures, it is not true," he said.

Meanwhile, wildlife activists have welcomed the notice, but say more needs to be done to stop poaching.

"We welcome a notice by the apex court regarding this issue, I welcome it on my behalf and also others like me. But what should be made clear is to determine who is responsible. Till we figure out who is responsible, the killings will not stop. After all, 125 elephants have died and the concerned department does not know and people do not know. This is a trade. It is a big trade and some kind of network and to break it, we'll need to see who is
responsible and not just hold discussions. So, I welcome this notice by the Supreme Court," said Anil Joshi, a wildlife expert.

Though forest officials argue otherwise, many wildlife activists say that poaching is rampant in the dense forests of Uttaranchal.
 
Although the trafficking of wildlife products is banned in India, the poaching of animals for their skin, bones and body parts, continues.

India is reported to have the South East Asia's highest number of Asiatic elephants in South East Asia.

According to the Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI), only male Asian elephants bear tusks, and the demand for ivory has led to the selective slaughter of tuskers in their prime. (ANI)