RANGAMATI: Asian elephants in Rangamati’s Kaptai National Park are facing a severe food shortage as diseases have damaged bamboo and shrubs, while people continue to collect vines, foliage and other edible plants from the forest.
As a result, elephant herds are increasingly entering nearby settlements in search of food, raising the risk of human-elephant conflict.
The 200-year-old Kaptai National Park is one of Bangladesh’s oldest reserved forests and has long been home to Asian elephants. According to the Forest Department, the park currently has around 40 to 45 elephants, including six to seven calves.
Locals said elephant intrusions were once rare but have become frequent, leaving residents fearful, particularly at night.
Sudatta Chakma, chairman of Jibatoli Union Parishad, said: “We cannot sleep when elephants roam around at night. No one ventures outside after dusk for fear of elephants, as it can become dangerous.”
Omarfaruk Shadhin, former range officer of Kaptai Range, said food became scarce in elephant habitats during the dry season.
“In addition, some people harvest vines and foliage from elephant habitats, evading the watch of forest officials,” he said.
Md Mamunur Rahman, Kaptai range officer, said elephants generally avoided human settlements if sufficient food was available in their natural habitat.
“By examining elephant dung, we have found that they are mostly consuming grass-based food. Elephants particularly like eating bamboo and bamboo leaves.”
He said the Forest Department was establishing fruit orchards and bamboo plantations in areas frequented by elephants to address the shortage.
Prof MA Aziz of Jahangirnagar University’s zoology department said an adult elephant needed around 150 to 200 kg of food and about 150 litres of water daily. Elephants fed on grass, vines, foliage, tree bark and fruits from 100 to 500 species.
He said the plantation initiatives might provide temporary relief, but protecting natural food sources was more important.
“However, the primary goal should be to stop humans from foraging food from elephant habitats, and keeping the forest’s waterbodies and natural streams functional and protected. If adequate protection is ensured in the reserved forest, elephants will find food naturally. In that case, there will be no need for separate plantations,” he added. - The Daily Star/ANN
