A jumbo job

The issue of creating an elephant corridor has been pending for years. But a decision has to be taken fast before we lose more elephants on railway the track

Rajaji National Park, named after Chakravarti Rajagopalachari (the only Indian Governor General), is spread over an area of 820.24 sq kilometers. Legend has it that Rajagopalachari visited Dehradun in the year 1948. He was escorted to the shooting area of the erstwhile Dehradun East Forest Division. On seeing the unspoiled beauty of the area he refused to hunt and suggested that the area must be conserved for its beauty. This eventually led to the formation of the Rajaji Wildlife Sanctuary. As an ode to him when the National Park was formed in 1983 it was named after him.

The Ganga, Suswa and Song are the perennial rivers that are its lifeline apart from many other natural sources of water. Ensconced within its fold is the Shiwalik Elephant Reserve which is one of the 11 reserves designated in India to conserve elephants. Over 75 per cent of the elephant population of this reserve is collectively found in Rajaji and Corbett Tiger Reserve. But we all know the sorry state of elephant management in the state. Elephants die with alarming regularity at the railway tracks. Because their habitat has been encroached upon, they are now venturing into human habitat and becoming more and more menacing. Earlier this month a rogue elephant killed three people in two separate incidents of attacking traffic and cars. There are hardly any experts to take care of the problem and the issue of the elephant corridor persists for years now. It is feared that the rogue elephant will be killed shortly. If it happens, it will be an undignified end of a glorious mammal.