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What makes jumbos stray

BERHAMPUR: Sprouting of illegal tribal hamlets inside the limits of Lakhari elephant sanctuary is the reason behind straying of pachyderm herds outside its limits.

A herd of nine elephants that had strayed out of Lakhari has created havoc in Gajapati and Rayagada districts of Orissa and Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh. During recent years elephants of Lakhari are straying out of the forest limits more often. On January 28, 2005 three elephants, including two females of this reserve, had strayed out and died of electrocution near a village on the outskirts of the forest.

Inhabitants of seven panchayats of Gajapati district on the periphery of Lakhari forest allege that during last few years the elephants started destroying their crops more often. They allege that elephants have started coming out more often due to establishment of hamlets by Saura tribals inside the forest limits. It is alleged that 16 such tribal hamlets exist inside the Lakhari forest. These hamlets have no mention in the revenue records. Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Gajapati Manas Ranjan Bhatt also accepts existence of these hamlets.

According to him, with the increase in population, the number and size of these hamlets is also on the rise putting pressure on the elephant habitat. The Forest Department has already informed the district administration and government about these hamlets inside the elephant sanctuary. But their rehabilitation will surely involve much investment, he says.

Trinath Nayak, member of the Lakhari Sanctuary Elephant Protection Committee, an organisation formed by people living near the elephant reserve allege that depletion of bamboo forests that serve as food source for elephants inside the sanctuary due to rise in tribal hamlets inside the forest is also a reason behind elephants straying out of it.

Added to it, Mr. Nayak feels water holes are not in plenty to serve the elephant herds in Lakhari. Increased human activity and alleged poaching by tribals inside the forest limit makes the elephants panicky to stray out of it. And when they come out they are driven in by the villagers on the outskirts of the village.

Lakhari elephant sanctuary is on an area of 274.08 square km.

As per records, there are 31 elephants in the areas of Lakhari under Gajapati forest division, and in the areas of Berhampur forest division there are 18 elephants.

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