New Problems, May 2002

More Information About IPAN Animal Refuge Veterinary Services Education Animal Conditions Project Reports "Loki" the Indian Elephant and related issues How you can help

By

Dr. Michael W. Fox
Hon. Chief Veterinary Consultant
India Project for Animals and Nature

US.. Funding for Asian Elephants and Conservation

The US Fish and Wildlife Service administers the multimillion-dollar Asian Elephant Conservation Fund, paid for by US tax-payers. One anti-poaching project funded in the Nilgiris, S. India, needs immediate review. Tamil Nadu State Forest Department forest watchers and guards have complained to India Project for Animals and Nature (IPAN) that the anti-poaching training course that they are currently enrolled in at the Theppakadu Elephant Camp in the Mudamalai Wildlife Sanctuary is a joke. The course has been reduced from 15 to 10 days. They are given lectures on elephant reproduction, diet and longevity, but no jeeps, radios and other essential anti-poaching equipment and training are provided, while every evening beer and chicken are in plentiful supply – which they feel is wrong because they care.

A few months ago another group of trainees contacted IPAN for help after being left stranded in the jungle at night without transportation, flashlights, food or water.

IPAN estimates that close to 60 wild elephants have been killed in the region over the past 18 months and IPAN has just exposed the illegal cutting of several hundred trees in the elephants’ dwindling domain, thanks to a Forest Department employee who informed IPAN rather than higher officials for fear of disciplinary action and the usual cover-up by all involved.

The old philosophical question, “If a tree falls down in the forest and there is no one there, does it make a sound?”, is now answered. The forests, what few are left, have ears so the whole world hears when another tree or elephant is felled. The native Americans and other indigenous peoples who talked with the trees and listened to the Earth have warned for generations that when the trees are gone, the sky will fall.

This terrible wound to the Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve and to the world will take decades to approximate a measure of regenerative healing. The re-seeding of these desecrated acres with the same varieties of trees and their daily protection and tending of same by Forest Department staff for at least twenty, and more like fifty, years should be ordered by the Court. Full government collaboration with Tamil Nadu State Forest Department, local peoples (villagers and tribals adversely impacted by this act of ecocide), and one or more NGOs of their choosing is also in order. Levying paltry fines and taking no disciplinary action against those responsible for this pecuniary and illegal act, based on the market value of the board-feet of timber they had cut down, would be no deterrent against future acts of ecocide, and would be an insult to the community, local and global.

This is not simply the destruction of a few trees, some very old: It is the decimation of tree-based communities, including the human and the non-human, from the tribal to the elephant, and from the Sun bear and the tiger to the Sambar, and Nilgiri langur monkey. and the widely poached and livestock-diseased ravaged guar or Indian bison, for all of whom reparation, repatriation, and protection are long overdue.

There can be no hope for the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve until such illegal activities, corruption, and inadequate administration and oversight are immediately addressed. Far more tribals should be employed by the Forest Department and provided appropriate vehicles, weapons, and radios. But above all they need to be given protection and guaranteed immunity when filing reports and giving testimony on illegal activities in the wildlife sanctuary, Reserve forest, and on private lands. As it is now, state Forest Department guardsand watchers who are called by local peoples to investigate, or who discover such activities themselves, must pay for their own transportation and other costs. They also face the specter of being either transferred for “causing trouble” or are demoted or have their salaries cut if they do not apprehend elephant poachers and other wildlife killers. So the carcasses of these animals are often burned to hide the evidence. Those who know about illegal activities and government complicity and cover-up are too afraid to speak out.

To put the blame on poverty and overpopulation for the extinction of the Asian elephant and the end of the wild, at least in the Nilgiris, is to perpetuate a lie that is becoming increasingly transparent to the outside world. The following translated statement given to IPAN by a Tamil Nadu State Forest Department employee helps set the record straight and will, we hope, avert yet another government cover-up that until now, has helped protect the status quo of vested interests that are contrary to the protection and conservation of wildlife and habitat, the rights and interests of indigenous peoples, and to the rule of law.

Delivered by Forest Department staff person (not even assigned to protecting area in question) on April 30, 2002, to India Project for Animals and Nature (IPAN), Hill View Farm Animal Refuge, Mavanhalla. IPAN staff took video and photos early morning May 1, 2002, returning the next day with local Tamil newspapers and local TV, after all attempts to reach the Collector of the Nilgiris,(chief administrative authority) had failed.

IN THE NELSON ESTATE, THE NILGIRIS, TAMIL NADU, S. INDIA, 100+ YEAR-OLD LIVE FOREST TREES ARE BEING DESTROYED.

In the Masinagudi area, adjoining Bokkapurum Village, in the former Westbury Estate, now the Nelson Estate, forest destruction is taking place by a foreigner who owns and runs a coffee estate. Once upon a time this area was an Evergreen

Forest. And in this Estate which is combined with forest area (Reserve Forest) there were over 100 feet-tall trees, with 500 cm. girth (diameter), which were always present.

Because of someone’s mistake/fault, this Evergreen Forest turned into Westbury Estate and then the Nelson Estate. Adjoining this Estate are the River ravines where huge trees were growing. For this natural environment there can be no price/ it can never be replaced. Now these over 100-foot tall trees with 400-500 cm. diameter which are wild (sholla) tree species are being destroyed because of greed of money. So for the last month (of this destruction), these so-called “perfect” protectors (of the environment) are showing their true colors.

There is a SAVE THE NILGIRIS CAMPAIGN/GREEN MOVEMENT -- what are they doing? Are you people/movements supporting these greedy crocodiles, or is it only meetings, preaching, etc.? Now please prove what you really do. These trees that protect the soil erosion and collect ground water are a Natural source. The water which these trees protect from erosion and which help natural springs and for saplings to grow are like natural machines helping the environment (unlike man-made machines). So these natural machines (trees) should be known to the forest officials and Singara Ranger.

The forest Officials and Singara Ranger forgot these natural machines and became agents of the Timber Mafia Crocodiles. This should be known/shown to the Public.

Hundreds of trees growing for the last hundreds of years -- those who destroyed them should not be punished mildly. Example: only a small case put against them and they get off with a small punishment. The head of the District (i.e. Collector) should take severe action!

Letter endorsed by the informed communities of Bokkapurum, Masinagudi, Mavanhalla and all public people.