Strengthen Policy and Management to Protect Wild and Captive Elephants

Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo at a seminar on Conservation of Elephants, Challenges and what needs to be done in Dhaka on 26 September 2026

Experts and stakeholders have emphasized the effective implementation of existing laws and regulations, and updating them where necessary, to protect wild elephant habitats and migration corridors, mitigate human-elephant conflict, and ensure the protection and welfare of captive elephants in Bangladesh.

A discussion titled "Elephant Protection: Existing Challenges and Way Forward" was held September 26, 2026 at the Shailopropat Auditorium of Parjatan Bhaban in Agargaon. The event was jointly organized by the Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA), IUCN Bangladesh, Creative Conservation Alliance (CCA), Obhoyaronno, and the Deep Ecology and Snake Conservation Foundation.

During the discussion, Dr. Mohammad Ali Reza Khan stated that the elephant population in the country has been declining year after year. Currently, there are approximately 457 elephants in Bangladesh. He remarked that merely planting trees is not enough for elephant conservation; a functional forest and ecosystem are essential. Importance must also be given to protecting elephant habitats and corridors, reclaiming Khas (government-owned) and forest lands, and rewilding suitable elephants back into nature.

He suggested forming a integrated national elephant recovery program and an expert team comprising specialists from various fields, including veterinary science, environment, behavioral and social sciences, and genetics. According to him, the core objective of elephant conservation should be: Know, Protect, Prevent, Recover, and ensure human-elephant coexistence.

A S M Zahir Uddin Akand, Conservator of Forests (Central Circle) and Project Director of the Elephant Conservation Project under the Forest Department, shared that under this project, implemented with limited government funding, initiatives have been taken for 350 hectares of afforestation, 50 hectares of bamboo plantation, approximately 10 kilometers of bio-fencing, 21 water reservoirs, tree towers, sensor-trap alarms, and cameras to monitor elephant movement. Provisions have also been made to set up two rescue centers at Gazipur and Dulahazara Safari Parks.

He noted that a limited budget, shortage of skilled manpower, and escalating human-elephant conflicts are the major challenges for the project. For long-term conservation, emphasis will be placed on research, public awareness, and youth engagement.

Abrar Ahmad, Governance Specialist at the Creative Conservation Alliance, stated that there are about 100 elephants in Sherpur. Food scarcity during the dry season exacerbates human-elephant conflicts. In this context, technology-driven solutions like AI cameras and early warning systems can be utilized. Six cameras have already been installed in the Modhutila Range to monitor elephant movements. He stressed the importance of public-private partnerships, local community engagement, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), and private funding.

Deepu Ahmed of IUCN mentioned that if at least 10 elephant corridors, measuring 2 to 10 kilometers in length, could be secured, many issues including human-elephant conflicts could be significantly reduced.

Rubaiya Ahmad, Founder and Chairman of Obhoyaronno, highlighted the rehabilitation and rewilding case of the elephant 'Rasmoni', stating that merely rescuing an elephant and keeping it chained is not true rehabilitation. The quality of life, health, and recovery progress of the elephants at Gazipur and Dulahazara Safari Parks need regular evaluation.

She added that isolated initiatives like Rasmoni are not enough; training for safari park mahouts (elephant handlers) and public-private partnerships are crucial. When it comes to captive elephants, we are still at a bare minimum level, and achieving the goal of rewilding remains a long way off.

Kanchan Morok pointed out that the voices of grassroots people do not properly reach the policy-making level, and elephant deaths are often not recorded accurately. The lack of fence maintenance, weaknesses in forest management, forest fires during the dry season, and elephant water scarcity are intensifying human-elephant conflicts.

He demanded a halt to forest logging during the elephant breeding season, freeing forests from encroachment, and taking effective legal action against violators.

Nurul Huda, Group Leader of the Elephant Response Team (ERT), said that if the elephant movement areas in Fasiakhali are kept protected and free from encroachment under the Forest Department, the elephant habitat and corridor will be secured. He also highlighted instances of elephant deaths due to electrocution.

During the discussion, proposals were made to consider conserving the Someshwari River and its adjacent hills as an elephant corridor and declaring the degrading hills of Bhabanipur as an elephant sanctuary. Concurrently, emphasis was placed on bringing ERTs under a single federation to enhance their capacity and making co-management teams functional.

A proposal was also made to open and protect at least four elephant corridors in border areas. Since elephants stay in these areas year-round, there is a need to further strengthen the ERTs. The impact of the border fence erected in 2007 should also be taken into consideration.

Tomas Örhlund Rehlenius, Second Secretary (Environment and Climate Change) at the Embassy of Sweden, said that a coordinated effort is required to bridge the funding gap in elephant conservation. Instead of looking at elephant protection solely as a conservation issue, it could be linked with the potential of ecotourism.

Fahim Chowdhury, Member of Parliament for the Sherpur-4 constituency, stated that elephant corridors are at risk of encroachment and disappearance. Ecotourism and sanctuary-based initiatives could be taken in Nalitabari, which would play a vital role in elephant conservation. He emphasized local employment and community engagement, calling for effective awareness messages to reduce human-elephant conflicts.

Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Chief Executive of BELA, stated, "We are ready to work coordinately with government agencies for elephant conservation." She noted that clear policies and guidelines are needed regarding ecotourism, freeing captive elephants, or rewilding.

She raised the point of creating a Wildlife Trust Fund alongside securing long-term funding and investment. She also mentioned that effective policies and penal provisions are required for managing elephants and other wildlife, as well as addressing cruelty to animals. Furthermore, she spoke about the necessity of a medium-term management plan for captive elephants.

She added that elephant management must be scientific and integrated. Land-related disputes among the Ministry of Land, the Forest Department, and District Administrations must be resolved, and crop compensation and incentive systems should be introduced to tackle the food crisis faced by elephants. She also stressed the need for increasing private investment and the government budget.

Proposals also emerged to create a Land Zoning Map for land management to guide development planning, and to ensure that Khas land is allocated for afforestation instead of being diverted to non-forest uses. Speakers noted that instead of isolated initiatives, integrated and holistic land and forest management is crucial for elephant conservation.

Abdul Awal Mintoo, Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, said that it is essential to conserve endangered species to protect biodiversity. For the sake of human interest, the coexistence of humans and other animals must be ensured. Significant progress has been made in this direction, and there has been a shift in perspective.

He mentioned that Bangladesh has an active protocol with India regarding elephant conservation. The proposals raised in the discussion will help shape future courses of action. Besides policies and planning, effective implementation is now the primary challenge.

He announced that in the next meeting with India, the issue of keeping at least five corridors open for wild elephant movement will be raised. Necessary measures will be taken in areas where elephants move but electric fencing exists. Additionally, coordination among the Army, Forest Department, and border security forces will be strengthened.

The speakers at the discussion unanimously agreed that elephant conservation is not the sole responsibility of the Forest Department. An integrated initiative involving the government, local communities, experts, the private sector, and other stakeholders is required to protect habitats and corridors, ensure human-elephant coexistence, safeguard captive elephant welfare, and guarantee long-term conservation. – Press release