The video was tweeted by Indian forest ranger Praveen Kaswan
New Delhi:
In a fascinating human-animal encounter, an adult elephant and a calf were caught on camera blocking the way of a sugarcane-loaded truck, then stepping aside when offered something.
The video was tweeted by Indian Forest Services (IFS) officer Praveen Kaswan with the humorous caption: “What do you call this tax”. In the short clip, we see two elephants, including a calf, block the way of a truck loaded with sugar cane. A person standing on top of the truck starts throwing bundles of sugar cane at the elephants.
Once the bundles land, the elephants move to the side of the road and immediately begin to feast.
What do you call this tax? pic.twitter.com/ypijxlSY5t
— Parveen Kaswan, IFS (@ParveenKaswan) July 24, 2022
The IFS officer warned in a follow-up tweet that offering food to wild animals is not very beneficial. He stressed that animals get used to the treats and that this prompts them to roam near human colonies outside their habitat.
Message I want to convey.
As beautiful as it looks, but never feed wild animals. Sympathy-based conservation is the enemy of wildlife.
They get used to easy and spicy food. As a result, they roam on roads and outside their habitat. Quite a few accidents happen this way.
Let them stay wild.
— Parveen Kaswan, IFS (@ParveenKaswan) July 24, 2022
The video has been viewed more than 1.6 million times on Twitter and prompted users to express their views on the act.
One person repeated the call of the IFS officer, highlighting how monkeys have become habitual of eating food offered by tourists and that this often leads to unwanted incidents.
Like most North Indian monks, they are used to easy food availability on the road, streets, temples and terrace! I have often seen them die in a traffic accident!
I kindly request not to feed any animals!
Enter the forest and make animal food hub there! Alone in the woods!— Rakeysh Anthal (@Rakeyshanthal) July 25, 2022
This user was of the opinion that people were walking through the elephants’ territory and that the “tax” levied was therefore justified.
Don’t you think it’s us who enter their territory! So any tax levied by them is justified! ????
— Praveen Krishnakumar (@Praveen72762573) July 24, 2022
While underscoring the impact of urbanization on nature, another person suggested a solution, writing that overhead roads and tunnels can help prevent animal-human conflict.
Well, we’re encroaching on their habitat, crossing roads. Food accidents or no food accidents will definitely happen.
Overground roads or tunnels can help. Elephants are intelligent animals and can smell their favorite food for miles and as such they keep blocking.
The only way to lure them away.— Randhir Chandra Singh (@RandhirChandr11) July 24, 2022
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