Steps to be taken to ensure safe coexistence of humans, elephants: Mintoo

Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo on Saturday said the government will take effective and coordinated measures to ensure the safe coexistence of humans and elephants.

He said elephant conservation is not merely about preserving the population of a single species but it also involves issues such as elephant habitats and migratory corridors, ecological balance, and the safety and livelihoods of the local people, according to a press release.

The environment minister made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at a discussion titled "Elephant Conservation: Existing Challenges and the Way Forward," held at Parjatan Bhaban in Agargaon, Dhaka.

The event was jointly organised by the Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA), IUCN Bangladesh, Creative Conservation Alliance, Arannayk, and Deep Ecology and Snake Conservation Foundation.

Mintoo said wild elephants in Bangladesh are a vital part of the country's natural heritage and ecosystem.

However, he said, their existence is currently facing a severe crisis.

In Bangladesh, wild elephant movements are primarily concentrated in the regions of Sherpur, Jamalpur, Mymensingh, Netrokona, Sunamganj, Sylhet, Chattogram, the Chittagong Hill Tracts, and Cox's Bazar, he continued.

In 2016, the minister said, there were an estimated 268 elephants in the country.

According to data from the Forest Department, 146 elephants died between 2016 and 2025.

He noted that human-elephant conflict is escalating due to various factors, including the shrinking of habitats and migratory corridors, deforestation, food scarcity, the construction of roads and railways, climate change, and the use of electric traps.

Mintoo said when elephants enter human settlements or agricultural lands, both humans and elephants are put at risk.

Therefore, he said, alongside taking measures after conflicts occur, efforts will be strengthened to protect elephant habitats and migration corridors, identify conflict-prone areas, and enhance early warning and rapid response systems.

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He stressed the importance of treating local communities as key partners in conservation initiatives.

The minister noted that while Asian elephants require vast ranges for movement, Bangladesh is a densely populated country.

Consequently, he said, elephant conservation is a complex task that cannot be accomplished by any single institution alone.

Effective coordination is required among the Forest Department, law enforcement agencies, local administrations, infrastructure authorities, conservation organisations, researchers, and local communities, he added.

Expressing concern over the poaching and trafficking of elephants in the remote border regions of the Chittagong Hill Tracts, he said coordination between the Forest Department and the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) must be intensified to ensure effective surveillance in these areas.

He also emphasised the need to incorporate safe crossing facilities for elephants and other large wildlife by taking traditional migration corridors into account during the planning stages of infrastructure projects, such as border roads.

Regarding the welfare of captive elephants, the environment minister said proper records of their licenses, numbers, and conditions must be maintained, and regular monitoring ensured.

Allegations of chaining, beating, and torturing elephants under the guise of training, as well as their use in circuses and other commercial activities, need to be examined seriously through appropriate legal and institutional processes, Mintoo said.

He said adequate medical care and responsible treatment must also be ensured for captive elephants.

Outlining the future action plan for elephant conservation, the minister mentioned that efforts would focus on protecting habitats and migration corridors, mitigating human-elephant conflict by involving local communities, regularly monitoring the status of captive elephants (including numbers, locations, licenses, and welfare), and strengthening collaborative initiatives among government agencies, conservation organisations, researchers, legal experts, and local communities.

Chaired by Syeda Rizwana Hasan, former adviser and BELA chief executive, the event was attended by special guests Mohammad Fahim Chowdhury, member of parliament from Sherpur-2; wildlife expert Muhammad Ali Reza Khan; and Shamima Begum, additional secretary (Administration) of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.