Conservation means not only the preservation and protection of natural resources, but also their wise use the term popularized in the United States by Grifford Pinchot
(a scholar of Dr. Brandis who has systematically and scientifically studied Myanmar's natural forest in the Bago Yoma), pioneer of American Forestry, and which stands for the husbandry and use of natural resources by the present and succeeding generations. Aesthetic, sporting, economic and intellectual exploitation of landscapes, game, minerals, animals, plants, soils and water is thus implied in the concept. The term wildlife conservation has been used to include an ever-widening group of animals, mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians, anthropoids and plants as well.
During the past 2000 years, the world has lost through extinction, about 166 forms (species or sub species) of mammals, distributed by regions as follows: (according to the committee for international Wild life Protection .)
( 1 ) Australia ( 1 1 )
(2) Malay archipelago (3)
(3) Asia (3)
(4) Europe (6)
(5) Africa (9)
(6) Madagascar (1)
(7) North America (27)
(8) West Indies (41)
(9) South America (1)
(10) Falkland Islands (I)
(11) Galapagos Islands (2)
(12) Oceans (l)
Approximately two thirds of these losses have occurred since the mid 19th century. In addition to those mammals already extinct, many others are vanishing or threatened. The primary factor in the depletion of the animal world is man's unscrupulous exploitation of natural resources, operating either directly through invading or destroying natural habitats, placing firearms in the hands of peoples who previously were without them or introducing to primitives, fauna of certain areas. Persons interested in the conservation of wildlife realize that much more is required than the mere protection of individual animals from destruction by shooting and other forms of direct action. Animal protection must begin with the conservation of the habitat- the area where the animals feed rest and breed.
At present, Myanmar is a country which is covered by 33 million hectares of natural forests in which two-thirds of the area is endowed with teak forests. On its part, Myanmar has made great commercial sacrifices in preserving its natural forest and conserving its wildlife. Therefore we have long recognized the fact that preservation of natural forest and wildlife conservation is the key to biodiversity conservation. Bago Yoma is in fact the golden land of teak. Natural teak forest still exists and flourishes in Myanmar. It is a land of immense beauty, of brooks and streams, waterfalls birds and flowers and of course herds of wild elephants still roaming freely within the 50 mile radius from the capital Yangon. Valleys and landscape and panoramic views of mountain ranges are astounding.
Very recently, a herd of wild elephants, about 20 in numbers arrived in the vicinity of Taikkyi Township, near the Leinmawchan village about 3 miles north east of Taikkyi and destroyed paddy fields and vegetation of the neighbourhood. The elephants from the Bago Yoma arrived at the aforesaid area on the 10th October, 1995,the herd led by a fierce tuskless bull (Haing) about 9 feet in height; it is in fact a man killer, which has killed more than 6 persons in the duration of 3 years. It is indeed one of the most savage and ferocious beasts in the environment.
Naturally, these monstrous beasts had to be driven back to their original home and habitat the Bago Yoma.A specific plan was drawn up by the Forest Department (Wildlife Conservation Division), and Director of the Department, U Than Nwe accompanied by U Soe Win assistant manager of MTE, the regional army Commandant, No. 4 Tactical Operation Command (Toc) and a detachment platoon of the No. 708 infantry battalion of Taikkyi Township headed the task force to implement this plan. The total task force of consisting of about 100 in number made up of village people, and township fireman were equipped with:(1) tranquilizer gun.
(2) Medicines.
(3) A point 375 magnum hunting rifle. (4) Three Icon walkie-talkie signal sets. (5) Five day rations for every person in this operation
(6) Six extraction elephants and their oozies. The extension division of the forest department participated in the operation to take live coverage television led by U Ye Myint (Advisor) MOF, and Maj. Aung Hlaing accompanied invited public media such as the MTRD personnel the Myanmar News Media, the Myanmar Motion Picture Association, the Myawaddy television network and lastly the psywar of the Ministry of Defence. A co-ordination meeting was held at the Ministry of Forestry on the 4th November, 1995 which attended by the G.S.O.I. Lt Col Mg Mg Oo and Forest and MTE personnel . It was decided that if circumstances permitted television and, motion picture cameras would be mounted on a helicopter for live coverage. The date time and DZ (dropping zones) had been fixed for the operation on l5th November 1995 and H. hour fixed at 1600 hour local time.
Our extension division team made up of 15 persons of various news and television media of various departments which departed from Yangon at ]530 hour by a mini bus of the Forest Department, arrived at Taikkyi at 2000 hour and haulted for the night at an agriculture base camp.
The next day our party proceeded to Leinmawchan village, where U Than Nwe the operational commander who had camped overnight at a nearby monastery. Infact, the day turned out to be an actionless day, merely collecting information and performing administrative duties. The second day that is the 17th November turned out to be a very busy day indeed. We walked out in single file through the jungle tract and arrived at Kainggwingyi village about 2 miles from Leinmawchan village, the vicinity of which was frequented by wild herds. And this had necessitated the closing of the village primary school for the time being. Captain Tin Htoo of the Myawaddy television Network, a young energetic person and his crew of four were ready and were very enthusiastic about getting some good shots of the wild herds. The operation of driving out the wild elephants from the vicinity of Leinmawchan vicinity back to the Yoma tract began on the 17th November 1995 at 10:30 am by the organized groups coordinated by the helicopter group headed by GSOI Lt:Col Mg Mg Oo. That morning a helicopter and its crew landed at the D.Z. of No. 708 Infantry Battalion Headquarters at Taikkyi. at 10,00. I met the GSOI at the map room of 708 and I gave him a brief account of the ground encounter with wild elephants.
A platoon, headed by Lt. Htin Gyaw who gave protection for the party stationed at the Kainggwingyi village radioed to the Battalion H.Q. that the operation was ready to start at 10:30 and the GSOI gave the green light. He invited me to come with him on board the helicopter of the BAF of the Ministry of Dfence. We boarded the chopper and in a couple of minutes it was airborne. The whole panoramic view of the terrain could be observed as far as the eyes could see. The whole view of the Bago Yoma is magnificent, made up of ranges of mountains and plateaus. Dotted here and there were streams, valleys and gorges unique of its kind. The brilliant Gyobyu reservoir was sparkling under the rising sun. It is a superb wildlife sanctuary for elephants when viewed from the air. We saw two groups of wild elephants from the chopper and it was telecast and photographed from the air. Bo Gyi Tin Htoo and party also telecast the wild herd at close range and got some good shots and it was telecast on TV Myanmar and TV Myawaddy to the general public. The wild elephants are very hard to approach and are extremely dangerous. In this encounter the TV crew had to run for their lives and had a narrow escape.
On behalf of the Department of Forestry and the extension division I would like to convey my tremendous thanks to Lt: Col Mg Mg Oo of the MOD for his co-operation and co-ordination in conveying information to the general public about the endangered elephants, still existing within 50 miles radius of Yangon and what the Forest Department is doing for their protection and conservation.