Plan afoot for Jumbo Reserve in Atharamura of Tripura

Agartala, Nov 1 (UNI) Tripura will soon have an elephant reserve in Atharamura hills in West Tripura district.

The state board for wildlife, in its first meeting, got a green signal to go ahead with the proposal of setting up the much awaited conservation project for elephants in the state.

A three-member team will be constituted to look into the rehabilitation of 800 tribal families likely to be shifted to implement the project. The panel will have to submit its report within next three months.

''The final decision of setting up of the elephant reserve will be taken only after studying the findings of the three-member panel,'' an official of the Forest department said here today.

The plan for setting up elephant conservation reserve at Atharamura, a natural habitat of the pachyderms, was mooted keeping in mind recent increase of elephant population in the state.

According to the latest census, the number of elephants has increased from 38 to 59 in the state.

''The elephant conservation will get a new lease of life if the project is implemented,'' he said.

Besides, decisions for setting up conservation centre for mammals at Hatipara in West Tripura district and critical wildlife habitats were also taken in the meeting.

Chief Wildlife Warden A K Gupta, who was present in the meeting, informed that work had got underway to make Sipahijala Wildlife Sanctuary as national park for clouded leopard.

The department has also initiated process to convert Trishna National Park for Bison in South Tripura district.

UNI XC DPM PK HT1427