Friday, January 19, 2018

Jumbo scare in Mayurbhanj

Baripada: Residents of Mayurbhanj district and wildlife personnel are spending sleepless nights because of jumbo menace.

Several herds of elephant have been wrecking havoc in Rairangpur for more than two weeks. If this was not enough, a tusker has added to the worry of the Baripada wildlife division for about a week.

The marauding jumbos besides raiding agriculture fields are also damaging houses and other establishments. In a desperate attempt to save their crop, the villagers are staying up throughout the night to ward off any jumbo attack.

Rairangpur divisional forest officer Kalunge Gorakh Waman said: "Two herds consisting of 24 elephants are moving in the area. A herd of 17 elephants, including one tusker are in Gorumahisani, and another seven are in Bisoi. But, they have not caused any causalities and efforts are on to chase them out."

In another development, a tusker, supposedly a member of a big jumbo herd residing close to Odisha-Bengal border, has sneaked into the state. The tusker, besides ravaging paddy fields, also damaged houses and an anganwadi centre. The tusker was spotted in Phalajhari forest under Betnati range on Thursday night.

"Around 120 elephants in different groups are moving in Chulunda forests under Chandbill range of Bengal about 5km from Odisha border. While a tusker got detached from the herd and has entered our area," said Deuli forest range officer Rabindra Mohanty.

Baripada divisional forest officer Swayam Mallick said: " The movement of elephants is being closely monitored."

"Our departmental personnel have been asked to follow the standard operating procedure to contain the menace and prevent loss of humans and wildlife," he said.

Please credit and share this article with others using this link:https://www.telegraphindia.com/states/odisha/jumbo-scare-in-mayurbhanj-188589

No comments: