Environment, Forest and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan has said the conservation of elephants requires the protection of their natural habitats.
Speaking as the chief guest at a discussion organised to mark World Elephant Day 2025 at the Forest Department headquarters (Bon Bhaban), Environment, Forest and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan highlighted the importance of controlling captive elephants, raising awareness among rural communities, and ensuring sustainable habitats for elephants.
She announced a special project for elephant conservation, which will focus on establishing 350 hectares of elephant-friendly food plantations and 50 hectares of bamboo groves, ensuring proper protection for the planted vegetation.
Rizwana also outlined plans to mitigate human-elephant conflict, including the construction of ecological boundary bio-fencing, with 10 kilometres of live fencing using thorny plants like cane, lemon, and jujube.
Additionally, she announced the formation of Anti-Depredation Squads (ADS), Elephant Response Teams (ERT), and Elephant Rescue Teams (ERT) near Elephant Reserves to strengthen conservation efforts.
The adviser revealed that sixteen tree towers will be built to monitor elephant movements, and two elephant rescue centres will be set up—one at Gazipur Safari Park and another at Dulahazara Safari Park in Cox’s Bazar.
Temporary shelters for treating injured elephants will be established in Sylhet, Chattogram, Rangamati, and Sherpur. Rizwana also mentioned that the effects of anthropogenic impacts and climate change on human-elephant conflict would be assessed, along with ethnographic surveys.
