Forests of Dhanbad, Chatra and Hazaribagh districts are not ‘supportive’ for elephants. lack of food and others essentials have forced the elephants of these forests to move out faster causing harm to the human habitat.
According to State Department of Forests and Environment sources, the scene is vice-versa in the forests under districts of Ranchi, Palamau, Simdega and Singhbhum known to be old range for these jumbos. The tragic incidents of elephants killing a woman at Chotanagpur village under Tundi Block around 40 kilometers from Dhanbad on September 19 and another herd of jumbos taking the life of a 50-year-old man of Jitratongri village at Churhu block of Hazaribagh on the same date can relate to the latest example of this lack of support scenario.
Explaining the reason of this variation, a senior official of the department said, “For past two decades Dhanbad, Chatra and Hazaribagh forests are fragmented due to increasing human population. Here, there is shortage of elephant food as well. As a result, jumbos divided in various groups are violently moving outside these forests in search of food wherein the human habitat is unaware of how to deal with these wild animals.”
“In such cases, our economic development committees in protected wildlife areas and village forest management committee in non-protected areas suggest the rural farmers to opt for change in cropping pattern adaptable in drought condition also. This involves farming of bitter smelling grasses like lemon, khus, arhar or eucalyptus outside the village in their agricultural land. Elephants cannot bear the aromatic smell produced by these plants so there are maximum chances of their returning back from this particular village premises. Villagers on the other side can earn industrial value by generating the essential oils from many of these bitter smelling grasses,” added the official.
Notably, elephants require two to five quintal food in a day. This mainly consists of bamboo plants, rice, fruits, local wines and roots. Despite this problem, the mortality of elephants has not lessened much in the state. The official informed that elephants are very conscious about the safety of their calves. He said, “Among the wild animal species, elephants owe a sharp mind.”
However, in number of districts having national parks covered with large forest range the Forest and Environment department is developing check dams so that elephants get adequate water supply. They are also advising the villagers to take several precautions of driving away the elephants such as using dragon lights and hooting.