Elephant herd in Jamui forest area
By Avijit BiswasÂ
Bhagalpur: An elephant herd that had strayed into Jamui district in month of February this year from adjoining Nawada district were driven back to their natural habitat in forest area of Jharkhand on March 27.
Following month long relentless effort of Jamui forest division, the herd of pachyderms that included five calves could be put back to their usual migration route. There were no reports of any kind of injury to human beings or animals in carefully undertaken operation by forest department personnels.
The elephant herd had entered forest area of Harkhad, Janamasthan and Garhi from Kowakol forest area on February 24. During its stay in Jamui district, the herd was primarily found moving in forest area located adjoining Giddeshwar Pahadi and Pathakchak dam in the district.
To keep track on movement of herd, apart from maintaining round the clock vigil use of technologically advanced thermal drones were made by forest department personnels.
In order to turn back the pachyderms towards their natural habitat located in Jharkhand forest area, limited use of torchlight and crackers were made by personnels involved in the operation.
The actual reasons behind herd of elephants straying close to area of human habitation where crop fields are located remains unknown. However as per forest department information insufficient availability of natural forage in forest area beside human interferences in their migration route through forest corridor often makes elephants change and stray towards open agricultural areas.
Though it could not be officially ascertained however as per information the forest area of Jamui district located close to human habitation, where the herd had strayed from forest area under Nawada district is not a usual migration route of pachyderms.
Insufficient availability of natural forage or human interferences as being stated might be reasons behind deviation of elephant herd from forest route in the region generally used for migration.
The movement of herd that had strayed into forest area close to human habitat this time however by and large remained restricted to the same area, primarily due to professionally undertaken efforts of forest department personnels.
The forest department officials involved in the operation undertaken to put back the stray herd of elephants on right track included Tejas Jaiswal, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Jamui, Ravi Kumar, Forest Area Officer, Jamui and Shobhakant Singh, Forest Area Officer, Sikandra. Meanwhile process has been initiated by forest department for assessing losses of farmers due to crop damage by elephants.
About the Author
Avijit Biswas is a former reporter with the Hindustan Times, Patna Edition, based in Bhagalpur. He has more than 25 years of experience covering politics and other key beats across eastern Bihar. Known for his in-depth ground reporting and strong grasp of regional issues, Biswas has closely followed political developments and social trends in the region, earning credibility for accurate and balanced journalism. Avijt may be contacted at biswasavijit@yahoo.com
About the Author
