Post News Network
Odagaon/Buguda, May 27: Elephant census was started in Odagaon range under Nayagarh forest division Tuesday. The enumeration of the elephants will continue till Thursday. Two foresters and 10 forest guards have been deployed in the census activity. The forest department employees on the first day Tuesday carried out the activity from 5 am to 9 am and from 4 pm till night. The activity was conducted at Dholapathar Bandha, Dian Kunda, Jamupalli, Gochcha, Hatiashila Bandha and Jodasahi.
Four watch-towers have been erected at different places to monitor the movements of the animals. Forest officials have been deployed at the watch towers to monitor the movements of the elephants round the clock, said forester Brundaban Nayak. According to sources, a herd of elephants has been roaming in Shulia reserve forest under Odagaon, Mahipur and Nayagarh forest range. Initially, the number of elephants in the herd was 13 and it was increased to 23 in the last few years. Out of these, an elderly elephant had died in Chorakhola jungle two years ago. Miscreants had removed its tusks. A complaint was lodged in this regard at Sharankula police station in this connection.
Later, a one-year-old elephant calf died in Gateri jungle under Mahipur forest range. The departmental officials said extreme heat and water scarcity were the reasons behind the death of the baby elephant.
The elephant herd used to stay at a place near Dutikeswar temple under Shulia forest range. However, they later moved from the area into the dense forest due to food and water scarcity. Elephant census was also started in several jungles under Buguda forest range Tuesday under the supervision of Buguda Forest Range Officer Prashant Kumar Sahu.
The forest range was divided into 13 units and responsibility of each unit was entrusted on a forester and a forest guard. That apart, three employees were appointed in each unit. They are being assisted by forest protection staff, para-foresters, elephant experts and fire extinguishers. Four watch towers have been erected at several places to monitor the movements of elephants. Forest officials have been deployed there. The census in Buguda range will be finished Thursday.
Meanwhile, ecologist Prafulla Majhi said that lives of elephant are at stake as water bodies inside the forests are drying up. He added that it is high time the departmental authorities prepared special budgets to set up water bodies in the elephant corridors.
