No more elephant rides at Jaldapara sanctuary
01-11-1009 Press Trust of India, India
Kolkata, Nov 1 (PTI) Tourists at Jaldapara wildlife sanctuary in North Bengal will no longer be able to enjoy an elephant ride as the forest department plans use the animals to patrol the jungle against poachers.
Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary is a protect park situated at the foothills of Eastern Himalayas in Alipurduar Sub-Division of Jalpaiguri District in West Bengal and on the bank of river Torsa and have an area of 141 km² and altitude of 61 m. Jaldapara, the vast grassland with patches of riverine forests was declared a sanctuary in 1941 for protection of the great variety flora and fauna, particularly one-horned rhinos, an animal threatened with extinction.
"There are five to six trained elephants at Jaldapara which ferry tourists in the forest. Instructions have been issued to the forest department to use them for patrolling," state's Chief Wildlife Warden S B Mondal told PTI here.
Mondal said protection of wildlife holds priority over promoting tourism and it was difficult to patrol the dense forests in Chilapata and Mendabari.
Last month the forest officials had found the carcass of female rhino with bullet injuries a deep wound in one of its legs, he said, adding the forest officials now fear that poachers in the guise of tourists went to core areas on elephant back to spot rhinos.
(Bron: http://www.ptinews.com/)
(Bron foto: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jkdsphotography/3245954141/)
This feels like a thoughtful and necessary step. Prioritising wildlife protection over tourist activities shows real commitment to conservation, especially in a sensitive area like Jaldapara where rhinos are at risk. Responsible travel choices matter more than ever, and stories like this help raise awareness. For travelers interested in nature focused and ethical Himalayan journeys, this Sikkim travel resource is worth exploring: https://northbengaltourism.com/sikkim-tour-packages/
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