A student receiving prize Quiz competition.

Pallahara, Angul, Orissa, India situated beneath Malyagiri Mountain predominantly habituated with tribal& primitive tribal groups (85%). The unjust & unsustainable use of biodiversity services boosting concurrent elephant attack. Out of total no of 1862 elephants in Orissa there are 45 elephants a remaking their habitation in Malyagiri mountain range. Last 20 years back, there was peaceful eco-existence between human and elephants. 49 deaths were happened during 2004-2009. About2503 Tribal households lost their livelihood because of this. Forest fire is attributing also for migration to adjacent forest and during migration elephant herd trespass through tribal settlement and causing damage to lives, crops and houses. On the contrary furry tribal attacking elephant’s herds by using indigenous and modern lethal weapon, even there are instances of burning of elephant by sprinkling gasoline. Changing scenario compels tribal to foresee & think elephant as enemy and it seems that if judicious elephant conservation intervention will not be undertaken the future generation won’t be able to see the Jumbo and more conflict between human and elephant will continue and death toll of both can not be minimized. To mitigate this Paribartan is facilitating tribal community to conserve the habitat of elephants adopting public, private and community partnership.

Anticipated Benefit & Output

- Villagers of 60 villages will take measures to conserve the elephant habitat and initiate plantation with bamboo/wild fruits bearing plantation.

- Sensitized tribal will involve in elephant conservation & management activity.

- Scientific techniques will be used to drive out elephants to their habitat.

- Coordination and synergy will be established between forest department and community.

- Peaceful coordination of human and elephants and fewer occurrences of elephant deaths and injury

- 4330 school student and teachers will undertake awareness drive on elephant conservation beyond the project cycle.

- Mapping will be done and information available with community on specific habitat location and movement of elephants.

Tribal community will take corrective measures by protecting and managing the habitat of elephants, bamboo/wild fruit bearing plant, plantation supplement and complement the food requirements of elephant which will be available in the wild. This apart in emergencies villagers cause spot light, crackers and sounds to drive back the elephant herd without using sharp weapon. Further sensitized villagers will form and follow self governed local norms and rules on conservation and poaching in partnering with local forest department and administration be informed by the tracker and in emergency the tracker will guide villagers for rescue. During the training, thematic areas such as how to use spot light, siren, flickering light, blasting of crackers and management of solar powered, wire mesh net/ strip and elephant proof trench. Trackers will also be trained on forest fire fighting measures and this will be percolate down to community and collectively they would control fire hazards.