Shrinking Elephant Habitat: Deforestation largely blamed
Rohingya settlements at one of the country's reserve forests have blocked the migration path of the Asian elephants, resulting in human-elephant conflicts.
The forest is depleting fast and Rohingya camps are making the situation worse. Attacks of wild elephants on refugee camps and cropland have become a common phenomenon.
An International Union for Conservation of Nature study claims that eight of 12 elephant corridors in the country's nine reserve forests are in Cox's Bazar. Of the 300 elephants in nine reserve forests, 112 have been spotted in Cox's Bazar alone.
The study says all the corridors have been closed following construction of roads, a cantonment, and human settlements.
The Ukhia-Teknaf reserve forest where the Rohingyas have taken shelter is one of the important habitats of the elephants in Cox's Bazar.
Since late August to date, around 4,000 acres was deforested and another 2,000 acres awaits the same fate following an influx of 655,000 Rohingyas.
The situation has further worsened as the Rohingyas are felling trees in the forest to collect firewood for cooking. There is no alternative to felling trees for the one million refugees to cook food.
Elephants go on foray every night at Lombasia, Modurchora, Kutupalong and Balukhali camps where the Rohingyas are exposed to attacks.
Suruj Ali who took refuge at Modhurchora makeshift camp at Kutupalong extension from Myanmar's Maundaw told The Daily Star that they live in constant fear of elephant attacks.
“I do not know how to save my family from the giants' attack. We just pray to Allah to remain safe in such danger,” Sujur Ali said.
The forest is fast depleting due to indiscriminate felling of trees and refugee settlements, said Md Ali Kabir, deputy conservator of Cox's Bazar South Forest Division.
He told The Daily Star that the Rohingyas' desperate move to collect firewood has further worsened the situation. They have asked higher authorities to arrange alternative means for them in order to protect the forest.
“The worst victim of the catastrophe is the endangered Asian elephant. Their habitats are being shrunk at an alarming way. The corridors the giants used to opt for moving have disappeared thanks to the growing human settlements,” he added.
He said the key corridors blocked by human settlements include Balukhali-Ghumdum-Myanmar and Panerchora-Rajarkul-Naikkhanchhari. The elephants never change their routes.
“As the main corridors are blocked, they seem to be shifting to Khuniyapalong and Dhuyapalong areas of Ramu from Ukhia-Teknaf',” he said.
Istiaque Ahmed, country director of International Union for Conservation of Nature, told The Daily Star that habitats for elephants have already shrunk in Cox's Bazar.
He said the corridors are important as the elephants migrate from one place to other for breeding and in search of food.
“Initiatives must be taken to free the corridors as much as possible. It is not viable to feed elephants given the amount they consume a day. We must maintain the environment so that they can get their food from nature,” he added.
Md Ali Hossen, deputy commissioner of Cox's Bazar, told The Daily Star they are trying to save the remaining corridors. Given the situation on the ground, any steps to save the forest and wildlife seem very tough, he added.