Elephant baby boom turns Junglemahal into Bengal's new wildlife nursery

In a rare conservation success, the forests of Junglemahal are echoing with the playful trumpets of baby elephants—a sound that has become increasingly common in recent years.

- BISWABRATA GOSWAMI

Once part of transient migratory routes, the jungles of Jhargram and its neighboring districts are now witnessing an elephant population boom that has stunned even veteran forest officers.

According to the Forest Department, the number of elephants across Jhargram, West Midnapore, Bankura, and Purulia has increased from 194 in 2017 to 224 in 2025—marking a 15% growth in just eight years. The majority of these elephants—nearly 65 percent—now reside in Jhargram district alone, indicating a significant shift in habitat preference.

"This is a very positive development," said Sandeep Sundriyal, Chief Wildlife Warden and Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife). "It shows that the elephants are finding these forests safe and resource-rich enough to settle, reproduce, and raise their young."