Why in news
The deaths of 10 elephants at Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve (BTR) in Madhya Pradesh gained national attention due to suspected poisoning from Kodo millet
Bandhavgarh tiger reserve
It is located in the Umaria district of Madhya Pradesh and is spread over the Vindhya hills.
It holds significant historical importance, evidenced by the presence of the renowned Bandhavgarh Fort, along with numerous caves, rock paintings, and carvings throughout the protected area.
In 1968, it was designated as a national park and in 1993 was declared a tiger reserve.
It is known for the Royal Bengal Tigers.
Other important prey species consist of chital, sambhar, barking deer, nilgai, chinkara, wild pig, chowsingha, langur and rhesus macaque.
Dependent upon them are the major predators like tiger, leopard, wild dog, wolf and jackal.
Effect of Toxic Kodo Millet
Elephants consumed Kodo millet, which was contaminated with cyclopiazonic acid due to fungal infections, leading to acute toxicity
Elephants exhibited unusual behavior before dying (e.g., lying down and sitting for long periods).
Urgent Need to Address Human-Wildlife Conflict & Conservation
Officials are concerned about rising elephant numbers without adequate resources for management and protection.
Measures like better training for forest guards, tracking technologies, and managing elephant habitats are urgently needed.
Need for government plans to improve policies for elephant protection, enhance monitoring systems
Foster collaboration across departments to reduce human-wildlife conflict and ensure long-term conservation of endangered species.
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