Mining push driving jumbos into villages

The ever expanding mining operations in Keonjhar district have forced elephants out of their natural habitats into human habitations, leading to frequent conflicts with local communities.

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Large-scale deforestation for mining has destroyed traditional elephant corridors, leaving the world’s largest land mammal displaced and vulnerable. With forests shrinking, herds in search of shelter and food sourees are straying into villages, leading to tension with people and resulting in loss of lives — both elephant and human.

According to the Forest department, about 55 elephants are now roaming the Barbil and Champua forest ranges. As the natural habitat of the animals and their movement corridors have been completely destroyed, the herds stray into nearby villages in search of food as night descends.

In the Balibandh forest section under Champua forest range and in Barbil forest range, 32 elephants have been sighted, while 14 were roaming in the Bamebari section. Another eight elephants have moved from Bhuyan Juang Pirha range under the Bansapal block to Bamebariarea. A lone elephant has been spotted in Belda area of the Joda forest range, forest officials said.