By IANS
Ranchi : The population of elephants has declined sharply in Jharkhand with poaching and confrontation with human beings suspected to be the main causes for the decrease.
Jharkhand has registered a sharp decline of 148 tuskers in the census conducted in May this year. According to the counting that took place between May 7 and May 12, the elephant population has declined to 624 from 772 reported in the last census conducted two years ago.
The last census had registered an increase in elephant population by nearly 200.
The forest officials denied any poaching and said the elephants had migrated to the neighbouring states like Orissa and Chhattisgarh.
“The census report indicates that the total population of elephants has increased in the country. There is strong possibility that the elephants have migrated to other states during census in Jharkhand,” said U.R. Biswas, the chief wildlife warden.
According to the census, there are 421 adult elephants, 149 teenagers and 54 calves. The highest number of elephant population has been registered in the Dalma sanctuary at 317.
According to forest department figures, in confrontation with elephants more than 400 people were killed in the last six years and more than 700 injured. About 82 elephants died due to many reasons like electrocution, hit by trains, diseases and others reasons.
In confrontation with human beings, nearly 10 elephants were killed. Poaching may be the other reason for their declining population.