Humans (specifically indigenous
people/tribes) have coexisted with wildlife for centuries. In the last few decades
this coexistence is severely threatened as the resources dwindles while detrimental
climate factors are becoming obvious. Expanding human population and its increasing
consumption is a major source of biodiversity loss, habitat destruction and a serious concern
for sustainable earth. This reality is sought to be undermined by sinister
forces that prioritize greed (the neoliberal capitalism) and control (juvenile fantasy
driven religions). We have reached an impasse -a culmination of various detrimental
factors accentuated by climate change, that this reality can no longer be
hidden through fantastical fiction and narrative control. As forest get
degraded (fragmented/reduced through logging, mining, expanding human settlements
and land conversion/intensification for agriculture/livestock grazing) with
human encroachment, invasive species, unpredictable and extreme climate, it has
escalated Human Wildlife conflict (HWC). Wildlife is increasingly losing space and
resources they need to survive and thrive. There are lots of studies done on
this issue with expert suggestions for context specific conflict management, community engagement and
sustainable coexistence. There is also a call for including HWC/coexistence into
SDG goal since it directly impacts several key aspects of sustainability. Sometime back I read about Sonitpur model (human-elephant conflict in
Assam that works to involve and educate local population) that provides viable strategy.
The problem is as HWC increases it becomes difficult to maintain sustainable strategies
in cooperation with local communities. Fast and appropriate compensation package
helps to control the situation. Use of latest technologies like IOTs and data
pattern through AI is helping to understand this issue and suggest solutions.
Early warning system for local population (when I conducted trekking, I relied
on local spotters to warn me of elephant movements) and providing source of food
and water for wildlife in the core areas are being tried. What cannot be denied
is that situation is set to deteriorate.
Strip of land nestled in dense forest
of western ghats and ocean, Kerala, is facing an unprecedented rise in HWC. Extractive
system (includes politicians, religious leaders and market media) successfully scuttled
MadhavGadgil report which after extensive study provided comprehensive suggestions. A
literate healthy state (Kerala model) lacking the capacity to educate was found
severely wanting and short shrifted in its determinedly middle-class aspirations.
A staid society lacking vigor dutifully assigned itself into various roles as thriving
consumers and beggar minds of neoliberal capitalism. Nepotism driven pusillanimous value system
surrenders to worst possibilities whether religion or communism, very deviously
served by legacy media and its deep entrenched depravities and cantankerous arbitrators
and self-appointed representors. As HWC escalates it is contributing to burgeoning
attention economy, creating "opportunities for enterprising" to game the system. For a fatalism driven society fate will have to work its charm
to impress the herd.
Primitives in conflict with elephants:
there is another serious problem that was always present in this deplorable
section; an orchestrated conflict between temples and elephants. Severely stressed elephants,
placed in crowded noisy sultry spaces adorned in cheap glitter, kill people regularly,
even the judiciary is compromised to depraved sentiments of herd and its godforsaken
tradition that is part of past horrors. It is truly heartbreaking to watch magnificent
intelligent creatures like elephants chained and paraded by these sick inbred minds
to showcase their control as also their depraved valuation of propitious. Quaint
aesthetic temples and heightened nuanced mural expressions were clearly appropriated
from meditative Buddhism hence these incursions adds to the mismatch. Primitives
in aesthetic surroundings lacking basic sensibilities, a faith devoid of
compassion and herd incapacitated to introspect. Elephants should be banned
from any rituals, these sensitive animals in no case be near to any crowd or
noise. Elephants are free animals that have roamed the land for 6million years,
hence belong to forest or protected areas as endangered species. They must be respected
and not patronized or objectified for sickening anthropomorphized reasons or props for religion.
Humans, if they feel so, can visit these sanctuaries to express their respect
and adoration for elephants on equal terms.
