Bengal govt screening drivers, guides to avert tourist-rhino conflict in Jaldapara

The West Bengal government has started screening drivers and guides of vehicles that take tourists to the Jaldapara sanctuary following a recent incident where a rhino pounced on a car with passengers on board, causing it to overturn.

A senior official said after the death of a school student in an elephant attack on his way to an examination center in Jalpaiguri district last month, the forest department is also working on an action plan to restrict the movement of the giants in their habitat. "It is not entirely possible to ensure a situation where the paths of animals and humans do not cross, but we have already conducted extensive checks on all drivers and guides to check their vigilance and skills," Senior Wildlife Warden Debal Roy told to a report.

He said the Jaldapara incident occurred when the driver of the tourist vehicle made the mistake of reversing the vehicle apparently in panic when the animal rushed towards him. The department also checks the eligibility of each vehicle deployed. There are 292 rhinos in the Jaldapara forest area, but there has been no previous case involving a rhinoceros in a similar manner in recent times, he said.

“We have also asked guards to monitor the behavior of tourists. Misbehavior by anyone who might disturb the animals will not be allowed to enter the vehicles going to the forest,” he added. The official said the department is also considering a proposal to ensure that tourists and guard drivers going to the forests are insured.

On the death of a Class 10 state board member under investigation who was trampled by an elephant, Roy said, “We are working on an action plan to ensure that elephants do not stray outside their home. If they do not stray beyond their corridors, the possibility of man-animal conflict will be less.” A total of 14 corridors have been earmarked in northern West Bengal where the movement of wild elephants will be restricted as soon as possible, Roy said, adding that seven of them would be given priority.

"These corridors will ensure that elephants and people don't often cross paths," he added. The officer said the forest department has approved a plan to relocate pachyderms across the state to areas with sufficient water, food supplies, wide range of movement and disjointed human settlements.