Jharsuguda/Kolabira: As wild elephants increasingly venture into human settlements in Odisha, damaging crops and houses and sometimes killing people, an elephant named Raju has emerged as an unlikely protector of villages near the Jalibahal forest in Jharsuguda district.
Residents say Raju intercepts wild elephant herds approaching villages and guides them back towards the forest, helping avert damage to homes and agricultural fields. His non-aggressive behaviour has earned him the affection of local people, who have named him Raju.
According to local sources, a herd of six wild elephants is currently staying in Jalibahal forest in the Kolabira forest range. The animals frequently enter nearby villages after sunset and raid paddy fields, raising concerns over residents’ safety and livelihoods. Raju has reportedly been helping divert the herd away from human settlements.
Af ter moving into Kolabira from Kuchinda forest, Raju returned to Jalibahal forest Monday night. The animal has also been spotted near Pokhrasalhe and several villages under Niktimal panchayat. Residents said Raju was once kept by a mahout but began roaming freely in the area after being abandoned.
He has played an unusual role in helping keep wild elephant herds away from villages ever since, they said. Human-elephant encounters remain a serious concern in the region. Frightened residents sometimes attempt to drive elephants away using burning torches, but the animals can turn aggressive and chase people, creating dangerous situations.
Kolabira forest range officer Sudam Jagadala said Raju was less aggressive than other elephants and had not harmed anyone. The Forest Department is closely monitoring the movements of the wild herd, he said.