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SHILLONG: The 2nd Indo-Bangladesh Dialogue on Trans-Boundary Conservation of Elephants will be held on Thursday  at the State Convention Centre, Shillong to develop and implement a coordinated and holistic approach for conservation of elephants in both the countries. 

Director General of Forest and Special Secretary to the Government of India will lead the Indian delegation. Officials from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and representatives from the Ministries of External Affairs and Home Affairs, High Commission of India in Bangladesh and Wildlife Institute of India and senior officers from the Forest Departments in Assam and Meghalaya and Meghalaya Frontier of the Border Security Force (BSF) will attend the dialogue. 

An eleven-member Bangladeshi delegation led by the Chief Conservator of Forests will take part in the said dialogue. 

The dialogue will be of great importance since the North Eastern states are home to  more than  9000 wild elephants out of which 1800 elephants  are  found in Meghalaya alone. 

The issue of migration of elephants between India and Bangladesh will be discussed in details as migration of jumbos between both countries have been noticed from 30 corridors of South West Garo Hills and South Garo Hills in Meghhalaya and Sherpur district of Bangladesh out if which 12 corridors are frequently used. 

The meeting will also  discuss the  smuggling of   live elephants  for captive use which  is a serious concern though fencing of the Indo Bangla border  has affected the a natural migration of elephants and other wild animals.

Source: The Times of India