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Forest officials worried about condition of tranquilised jumbos

BERHAMPUR: Orissa forest officials fear that continuation of ‘Operation Gajendra’ by Andhra Pradesh forest department may kill some of the seven elephants of the herd that is being driven out into Andhra Pradesh.

“We are worried about the condition of these seven elephants as four of them were tranquilised earlier,” said Gajapati Divisional Forest Officer Manas Ranjan Bhatt.

As per the reports with him, a division has occurred among the remaining seven elephants of the herd. The four elephants which had been earlier caught by the forest officials in Andhra for tranquilisation and later freed are no more accepted by the rest of the three elephants.

Usually the wild elephant herds do not accept the elephants, which get close to humans.

They identify it through smell.

Moreover, these four elephants have also received injuries on their legs as they were restrained by chains for tranquilisation.

According to Mr. Bhatt, injury of these elephants and breaking of the herd is the reason behind delay in shooing out process by ‘hulla’ team from Andhra Pradesh.

Since last two days the ‘hulla’ team from West Bengal has been able to drive the herd of elephants only 10 to 15 km towards Orissa. This herd has to travel over 60 km to reach Orissa limits, which may be fatal for the health of these injured pachyderms, Mr. Bhatt said.

When informed that plans were on in Andhra Pradesh to leave the elephants where they were and establish an elephant sanctuary for them at the spot, Mr. Bhatt said establishing a proper sanctuary for stay of wild elephants takes much time and effort. It cannot be done overnight.

But the shock that the members of the elephant herd have received due to the aborted attempt of their tranquilised transportation by Andhra officials would have its toll on the health and psyche of these elephants.

“They may not behave properly in future and may become more violent erratic,” he said.

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