Elephants embroiled in Maoist conflict in Bengal

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CAUGHT IN RED ZONE Foresters looking for alternative route for jumbos TIMES

NEWS NETWORK

 

Kolkata: The herd of 80 elephants that came to West Midnapore from Dalma and

finds itself trapped in south Bengal — as its forest route has been “taken

over” by Maoists and joint forces — triggered panic in villages on the

Bankura border on Friday. Moving from Gangajal Ghati on the banks of the

Damodar, the elephants have now taken cover in Borjora, a forested block on

the Bankura-Burdwan border.

 

The entire herd came out of the jungle and started attacking potato and

pumpkin fields at Morar, Kulupukur and Basudebpur. Fields of at least 100

farmers were completely ransacked and huts damaged, though no major injury

was reported from the area.

 

Forest officials who are tracking down the elephants and trying to get back

them on the return path feel that the animals may avoid the old route and

stay back in south Bengal, which can lead to serious damage in parts of

Bankura and West Midnapore. Traditionally, their route in Bankura goes

through Simlapal, Raipur, Jhilimili and Raipur blocks. These blocks have

enough forest cover and so the elephants find sufficient food. However,

these blocks are now being avoided by the elephants, who have taken the

Bishnupur-Sonamukhi-Borjora route because the dense forests are full of

Maoists even as the joint forces are closing in.

 

The forest officials are scared that the herd, which is showing clear signs

of distress, may cross over into Durgapur across the border and create havoc

in the densely populated urban areas.

 

The herd did try to take its normal return route via Kantapahari and

Lalgarh, but turned back due to the “disturbance” caused by Maoist

activities, split into two groups and moved into Hoomgarh and Garbeta, which

is on the Bankura border. They converged after crossing Garbeta and moved

together into Bishnupur, Jaipur and Sonamukhi in Bankura, wreaking havoc all

the way. “The temperature borders 40 degrees Celsius here. This coupled with

lack of food and the inability to return home is making them wild,” said V K

Yadav, deputy chief wildlife warden (western circle).

 

The officials are now trying to put the elephants on an alternative route via

Goaltore. While they are likely to avoid the

Goaltore-Kantapahari-Lalgarh-Belpahari-Bhulebheda-Dalma route, the elephant

squad is “suggesting” the alternative route of Goaltore-Sarenga-Belpahari.

 

“We will try our best to guide the elephants back on the alternative route,

which is not too unfamiliar to them because a small group did come to Bengal

this year using that route,” Yadav explained.

 

DFO Bankura, S Kulan Deival, said villagers have been told not to harm

elephants even if they attack their fields. “We would compensate for the

losses,” Deival said.

 

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