Human-elephant conflict shows no respite in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj, 10 deaths in two months

Baripada: Human-elephant conflict is showing no signs of decline as cases of deaths from jumbo attacks continue to be reported from Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district. As per reports, as many as 10 people have died in elephant attacks in the last two months in the district. Not just that, two jumbos have died in last two days amid mounting confrontations in human habitations.

Official sources said a group of  70 elephants strayed into the district from neighbouring Jharkhand five years back. The herd, comprising 30 female elephants, 32 tuskers and eight calfs, has been roaming in the forests under Baripada division since then and has reportedly not gone back. The elephants were first moving together but since the last six months, have dispersed into separate groups. These jumbos, after separating from the herd, are straying into human settlements and damaging crops and houses in search of food. These pachyderms are are not going back to the jungles and loitering nearby as they find paddy and other edibles in the villages, forest personnel informed, adding that this results in increased confrontations with locals who happen to come in the way. “These elephants are preferring to stay close to the human settlements where they find food. As a result, there are increased cases of jumbo attacks on villagers,” they said.

In the last six months, elephant attacks have claimed 32 lives in the district.

Forest officials, are however tight-lipped on the issue and no clarification has been issued in this regard from the department.