Berhampur: A herd of elephants was found moving in the forest areas of a gorge close to Odisha’s Berhampur city on Monday night.
According to sources, a team of Forest officials spotted the heard of 8 elephants in Dakhinpur area under Kukudakhani block of Ganjam district which is adjacent to Berhampur city. The officials suspected that the elephants, who normally move around in their habitation area in nearby Tamana forest, might have intruded into Dakhinpur in search of food and water.
After the Forest officials informed their higher authorities about the elephants, a team from Berhampur forest range went to the spot on Tuesday. The team has been keeping track of the herd’s movement. The Forest officials have made preparation to prevent the elephants from moving into human habitation in Berhampur outskirts.
Even as people of the villages near Dakhinpur remain in a state of panic apprehending intrusion of the herd, the Forest officials have been advising them not to disturb the wild animals.
Berhampur ranger Amlan Nayak said almost every year, the herd of elephants comes from Tamana forest to Dakhinpur in search of water during summer. Though the elephants return to their habitation, this time they have remained in the gorge, he added.
However, Nayak said there was no need to panic as the Forest officials were taking steps to drive the elephants from the area so that they would not intrude into human habitation.
