Sanctuary for elephants

About 200 years ago, elephants were abundant throughout today's Bangladesh but today they are listed as critically endangered animal. Up to 30 per cent of Bangladesh's elephant population is transient. A 2001-2003 IUCN study found that there were 15 important elephant corridors in Bangladesh involving native elephants and migratory populations from India and Myanmar.

The government has reportedly planned to create a sanctuary for elephants and tigers called 'Bangabandhu Conservation Corridor' in Chattogram Hill Tracts (CHT). A project is likely to be undertaken to make three corridors in bordering areas for the Asian elephants. Wild elephants in Bangladesh are limited to areas generally inaccessible to humans such as the isolated CHT region or a few national parks. The biggest threats to wild elephants in the country have been identified as loss of habitats and fragmentation, scarcity of fodders, and disturbed corridors. However, Bangladesh has lack of resources to effectively manage conservation of wildlife. There are around 100 captive elephants in the country. About 75 per cent of them are engaged in logging industry and the rest in circus. Conditions of both the groups are said to be difficult.

Tigers and elephants are the 'flagship' animals in Bangladesh's flora and fauna. Tigers too need their own territory and need to be conserved. Elephant sanctuaries around the globe are established to protect elephants in an area where their numbers have drastically diminished, or as a refuge for injured, neglected and abused animals. For their protection and further conservation, protection around the borders of the sanctuary has to be ensured properly so that all bad elements remain outside and that the elephants remain safe in the sanctuary.