Kolkata, Oct 5 (IANS): West Bengal Forest Minister Hiten Barman Friday expressed concern over the growing population of some wild animals, including elephants, and said it could potentially harm the ecological balance.

"There has been steady growth in the population of several wild animals including elephants, rhinoceroses and buffaloes, in comparison to the forest cover in the state," Barman told mediapersons.

"Since culling of animals is prohibited unless they suffer from an epidemic, we are finding it difficult to contain their population, which can pose a threat to the ecological balance," Barman said.

Barman said the government was not only planting trees to increase the forest cover, but was also working on checking deforestation.

The minister said that although instances of poaching had come down in the state in the past one year, there were poachers from the north eastern states moving into the forests of the state.

"Poachers from north eastern states, especially Nagaland, have been entering our jungles lately. Although there has been decline in the cases of poaching, we have to be on our guard to protect endangered species," Barman said.

Barman was speaking at the Alipore Zoological Gardens, where he was present along with state Correctional Administration Minister Shankar Chakrabarty to inaugurate an art camp for jail inmates.