Bhanjanagar: As many as 81 pachyderms were found present in various ranges under Ghumusar forest division in the elephant census. The headcount began May 22 in the Ghumusar North and South forest divisions in Ganjam district and concluded Friday night. By Friday evening, 62 elephants were spotted in various ranges of the Ghumusar North forest division. Similarly, 19 jumbos were found in the Ghumusar South forest division. The findings revealed that these two divisions have gradually become safer habitats for elephants in comparison to neighbouring forest divisions. The giant animals present here tend to return shortly after visiting adjacent forest divisions, it was learnt.
According to Forest department sources, 25 elephants were seen in Mujagada range, five in Tarsingi range and 32 in Jagannathprasad range under the Ghumusar North forest division as of Friday evening. In the Ghumusar South forest division, five pachyderms were spotted in Sadhangipalli forest of Asika range and 14 in Pandakhola forest of Sorada range. The census includes calves, mother elephants, maknas (tuskless males), and tuskers.
No makna elephant was found in either of the forest divisions during the census. The division-level reports will be integrated at the Regional Chief Conservator of Forest (RCCF) level and the final statelevel elephant count will be determined based on reports from all RCCFs. Contacted, Vinod Acharya, the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of the Ghumusar South forest division, confirmed that 19 elephants were counted during the census. Similarly, Himashu Sekhar Mohanty, DFO of Ghumusar North forest division, stated that the forest division provides a safe habitat for elephants leading to an increase in their numbers.
Notably, elephant census is conducted in the state every two years and the government takes steps to ensure their protection based on the results. The last census in 2017 recorded presence of 1,976 elephants in the state. While another census was to be conducted in 2019, it was cancelled in view of the Covid 19 pandemic and no census has been held thereafter. In 2017, 11 jumbos were found in the Berhampur forest division, 17 in the Ghumusar North, and 25 in the Ghumusar South forest divisions in Ganjam district. The number of elephants has significantly increased possibly due to migration from other forest divisions.
On average, over 75 elephants die annually in the state due to various causes. Since 2017 many calves have been born suggesting a potential increase in the state’s elephant population. Both forest divisions are implementing measures to ensure the safety of elephants. Mohanty and Acharya are collaboratively visiting various areas to directly address the provision of food and water for the elephants.