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WTI to launch conservation action report on securing Wayanad Elephant Corridor

As a run-up to World Elephant Day, Wildlife Trust of India will release their Conservation Action Report on securing the Thirunelli – Kudrakote elephant corridor on Tuesday, 11th August 2020. The Thirunelli – Kudrakote Elephant corridor connects the Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary, Karnataka with the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala and is vital to the habitat connectivity and survival of about 6500 Asian elephants.  

This long-term project of WTI commenced with the Kerala Forest Department in 2005 to secure a corridor area that housed five villages covering about 37.3 acres. Bangalore based Asian Nature Conservation Foundation purchased 12 acres and handed it over to the Kerala Forest Department.  

Elephant & calf at Thirunelli Kudrakote elephant corridor. Photo: Ramith@WTI

As one of the four corridor securement models, WTI with support of its donors managed voluntary relocation of 37 families from four other settlements covering 25.3 Acres in this corridor. These families were provided housing and, in some cases, facilitated with alternative livelihoods and government schemes. This was done to ensure unhindered elephant movement through this corridor that would be bereft of human habitation.
WTI’s data shows that pre-relocation of these families, 100% of the corridor resident families faced regular conflicts with wildlife (elephant, wild pig, deer and bonnet macaque). Over 90% of the relocated families agreed that the new locations were largely free from wild animal encounters and attacks and had better access to roads, schools, hospitals and ancillary facilities. Direct and indirect evidence indicate good usage of the corridor by elephants, tiger, gaur and other wild animals maintaining the functionality of the corridor.

Annappara (relocation site for Thirulakunnu). Photo: Pranav Capila

The online event will be attended by Soumitra Dasgupta (IFS), Addl. DG, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Noyal Thomas (IFS), IG – Project Elephant, MoEFCC, PK Kesavan (IFS), PCCF and Head of Forest Force, Kerala Forest Department, Surendra Kumar (IFS), PCCF (Wildlife) and Chief Wildlife Warden, Kerala Forest Department. Special invitees Ruth Ganesh, Principal Trustee, Elephant Family, Dr Jonathan Barnard, CEO, World Land Trust, Marc Hoogeslag, Coordinator – Land Acquisition Fund, IUCN Netherlands who have been WTI’s long term partners in securing this elephant corridor in India are participating in this online event that will include a panel discussion on Strategies to secure Right of Passage for Elephants in India. The panel discussion will be moderated by Vivek Menon, ED and CEO of Wildlife Trust of India and the Chair of Asian Elephant Specialist Group.

Elephants in Kerala

This report is a benchmark study on successful land acquisition through voluntary relocation of people for securing right of passage for the Asian elephant and has potential to be replicated across other landscapes favouring this strategy.

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