Palamau tiger reserve officials are keeping their fingers crossed as a contingent of about 40 jumbos are stationed at Ramandaag compartment 1 & 2 from where the farmers’ fields with crops not too far. The DFO buffer Anil K Mishra said the herd of elephants has about a dozen baby elephants. The baby elephants are more sportive than the older ones as these are the first to raid any standing crop field much faster and much aggressively than their mothers. The farmers are advised to keep safe distance from the elephants like not to challenge it by going too near any jumbo.
Mishra conceded that a woman went out in the jungle to collect dry wood ran on seeing a jumbo not far from her and in the run for life she got hurt. Panic running causes more harm than run for life in a secured way reminded Mishra.
Ramandag has never been the elephants resort as elephants always love staying at Bareysarn.
At Bareysarn the elephants have two things in plenty ‘ bamboos for eating and lots of waters in check dams.
Mishra said Ramandag has now been upgraded with bamboo cultivation and a fleet of three or four check dams.
The elephants now prefer this Ramandag to Bareysarn.
Palamau’s elephants have earned notoriety for again two things raiding crop and drinking mahua wine! Mishra added crop raiding by elephants is done for food while mahua drinking is by pleasure.