Villages on Alert as Jumbos Return to Their Home (Ranchi, India)

Forests department has issued alert as elephants are returning to their home in Dalma after spending over seven months in the jungles of West Midnapore and Bankura in neighbouring Bengal. Presently, the elephants, including calves, are stationed at Aamdapahari, Jamdih and Jhunjka, the three jungles in the fringes of the sanctuary.

The forest range office in Mango has alerted the villagers about the returning animals. Crackers have been distributed among the villagers and village youths have been  put on high alert as daily wagers to keep a watch on elephants and other animals.

The picturesque environ of Dalma is about to abuzz with activities with over a dozen tuskers assembled in the fringe areas of the sprawling 192 sq km sanctuary.

Abundance of water and fodder had held up jumbos in forest of neighbouring Bengal.  Jumbos generally return home to the reserve by the end of February or at the most the first week of March. But this year they overstayed in Bengal.

Notably Dalma is the best elephant habitat of Jharkhand, where the pachyderms love to spend their summer. Dalma used to be pleasing with temperatures less than 30 degrees C. But due to rising mercury over the years the elephants started migration to green pastures. The forest department has made arrangements to keep them anchored in Dalma, by providing water and greenery.

“We are keeping an eye on their movement. Two separate herds of about 25 elephants have already returned to the sanctuary while the rest are in the fringe pockets. They may be home anytime,” said Dalma range officer R P Singh.

A forester said villagers living near Aamdapahari, Jamdih and Jhunjka have informed them about the presence of the pachyderms. “Food and water is not scarce at these three jungles. The elephants are expected to stay there for some time but would leave once the temperature shoots up. The jumbos return home once after temperature rises. This is a usual trend,” he added.

Residents of Gerua village, which has found itself at the receiving end of jumbo attacks, have been especially asked to be on high alert. “Gerua comes along the migration corridor and elephants may divert to the village in search of high food,” a staff at the range office added.

An official said the need to conserve the greenery is a must and we need to maintain a safe distance from the animals living in the jungles.  In the recent weeks several elephants have returned to the Dalma Sanctuary and possibly a few more would join them in the weeks to come.