Berhampur, July 18: Orissa): People living in villages near forests of Orissa’s Kandhamal district are spending sleepless nights in view of frequent elephant attacks, official sources said here today.
Marauding pachyderm destroyed as many as 157 houses in 16 villages spread over Daringabari and K.Nuagaon blocks of the tribal dominated district in the last two months, they said adding eight houses were damaged yesterday at Kandi Bandhaguda village.
The elephants had also trampled to death an old woman in the area during this period.
However, unconfirmed sources had put the number of houses destroyed by the elephants at 200 in 20 villages.
At least 25 elephants divided into three herds were roaming in the area creating havoc.
While several families were rendered homeless, many preferred shifting from their villages to relatively safer places.
“Elephant menace has increased in the area during last few months forcing us to move to safer places, particularly, during night,” Trinath Pradhan of Medubadi village said.
Meanwhile, forest personnel were a worried lot in view of the retaliatory attitude of the elephants.
“After being driven out by the people, the elephants from one area, instead of retreating to the forests, they raid to new areas in the vicinity,” R C Sethi, DFO of Baliguda, said.
Stating that the elephants were doing so despite the area having vast patch of forests, Sethi said, “We suspect these are the same elephants who had migrated from the Lakhari Valley Elephant Sanctuary last year.
“The elephants are not going to the jungles despite our efforts to send them into their habitat. It indicates that there are some disturbances back in the jungle,” he said.
Corroborating the DFO’s views, wildlife activists said there was no doubt that disturbance in their habitat had forced the wild animals to prolong their stay outside.
“I think the elephants have migrated to Kotagada forests in Kandhamal after their traditional route to Niyamgiri hills in Kalahandi district was disturbed due to industrial activity,” said an activist.
A study is needed to ascertain the reasons behind their migration, he said adding the elephants were now colonized in new areas and taking much time to accustom out of their natural habitat.
—Agencieds