MARIANI, Dec 6 ? More than two scores of elephants dwelling at Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary have been causing a severe menace in the contiguous areas. It is reported that since 1982 the tuskers have killed 45 persons, and inflicted considerable destruction in the region. The sanctuary, which has an area of 19.49 sq km, is primarily a woodland and as such there is a scarcity of grasslands. Moreover it is considered that an elephant requires an area of 10 sq km for its food supply annually. Thus the elephants at the sanctuary has an area of about half square km for themselves. Thus the deficiency of area and grasslands results in the scarcity of food for the giants. Apart from this, illegal deforestation and grazing has added to the problem. All these factors force the elephants to drift out of the forest in search of food and eventually create menace. The adjacent tea gardens and villages are severely affected by the frequent depredations.
Apart from the tea garden areas, ward no. 1 and 2 of Mariani is also frequented by the tuskers. Moreover, the situation has also provided a threat to the railway workmen in the forest region. The forest department, as well as the railways, have failed to take any notable precaution regarding the matter. Nevertheless, it seems that transferring the elephants to another habitat seems to be the only solution.
Bridge for hoolock gibbons needed: A bridge, either artificial or made naturally with the help of tall growing trees, overhanging the railway track here at Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary has become an exigency owing to the slow rate of multiplication of the hoolock gibbon. It is presumed that this sanctuary is inhabited by about 64 such gibbons yet lack of communication among them is slowing the birth rate.
The abode of seven species of primates ? Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary is considered to be a place of definite sighting of the only ape in India ? the Hollock Gibbon. The behaviour of this ape is identical to man. And as such it lives in familiese. The coition of a male takes place with the female of another family. Moreover, it is also believed that a male never takes on a second female. Thus for an unimpeded process of growth in the population of apes inter-communication is vital. But the railway track running through the sanctuary is contravening such communications. By nature, the hoolock resides on the trees for the maximum time and fairly comes to ground and thereby they are reluctant to cross the track. Thus the track is a great divide between the families residing on either sides. The NGO?s of the region hope that the forest and railway dept would look into the matter soon.