KAZIRANGA, Oct 28- In view of the rising cases of man-elephant conflict in and around Kazirnaga National Park (KNP), the Corbett Foundation in association with KNP has come forward with a new project to educate the people in the 32 fringe villages of the park.
The project, being funded by Hem Chandra Mahindra, will cover different locations for better management of wildlife, besides ensuring proper co-existence of human and wild animals in a suitable environment.
While sharing inputs about the project with this Correspondent, the Deputy Director of Corbett Foundation Dr Navin Pandey said that the project is aimed at educating the people about protection of wildlife. �This is an inclusive programme with active support from different stakeholders, including media representatives and local people of Kaziranga. We hope that the project will yield the desired results,� he said.
A new vehicle has been introduced, exclusively dedicated to the purpose. The vehicle was formally dedicated to this noble cause by senior reporter of Kaziranga Nilapadma Sharma and wildlife correspondent Swapan Nath.
Under the project, several aspects will be closely monitored, including disease control, mitigation of human-wildlife conflicts, awareness on compensation access, flood preparedness and reducing wildlife mortality.
It may be recalled that cases of man-elephant conflict have been increasing in various parts of State on account of depletion of forest cover, besides shrinking of elephant corridors. Another important aspect is that animals have lost their habitant due to deforestation. �The project will be able to educate the people living in the vicinity of KNP,� the expert said.