The picturesque environ of Dalma is abuzz with activities of over a dozen tuskers these days. After staying in Bengal jungles for almost a year, the elephants have started returning to their 192 sq km Dalma reserve.
However, the footfall to the scenic Dalma wildlife sanctuary has reduced. Sources informed that Dalma elephant Don, a 50-year-old tusker has spread fear among the visitors.
Sources informed that people are in near-by villages are of havoc due to the menace. Sometimes villagers migrate to safer places for a week or more to avoid the sudden night-time attacks of the wild elephant herds.
“The return of ‘Don’ to Dalma is a matter of great concern for us. Our lives are at risk due to rampaging elephants. Elephants regularly venture into villages, destroy houses, damage standing crops and even trample people to death. We are forced to work like a ‘night guard’ to save our lives and crops” said Ramesh Munda.
Dalma range officer Mangal Kachhap said that over 100 people used to visit the sanctuary and watch elephants. While some used to stay at Pinderbera guest house, others came and left by the evening. But now visitors seem to be avoiding the sanctuary.
"As per the details received from our guest house at Pinderbera. The rooms are vacant from past few days,” he said. He said that they were taking written undertakings from visitors and this could be the other reason behind the less attendance but Don's fear was the basic cause which has affected the footfall.
Don who returned back to the Dalma wildlife sanctuary from the jungles of West Mednipore and Bankura, has started creating menace attacking foresters and villagers at different locations. “ The tusker is known for menace and we are keeping an eye on him. We will make sure for safety of near by villages. This is temperamental and we need to be careful,” said Kasyhap.
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.