Dhenkanal: A herd of elephants has been frequent visitors at the National Highway-55 near Haladiabahal under Sadar range in Dhenkanal district. The wild herd has been frequenting the NH twice a day for the last couple of days, drawing huge crowd and offering spectacular views for the locals there.
Locals are not leaving any opportunity to take pictures of their activities and shoot videos on their mobile phones.
As many as 29 elephants have made Nimidha and jungles nearby Haladiabahal their habitat for some days now, locals said. In search of food, these jumbos come out of the jungle and cross the NH-55 in the morning. Later, after food they roam around the Brahmani river bank.
Most of the time, they divide themselves into groups. One herd crosses the river to reach Mahabirod range under Parjang block on the other side. Another herd heads towards Hindol range. Yet the third herd roams around the river bank. In the afternoon, they again return to their habitat, the jungle near Haladiabahal.
According to animal lovers and environmentalists, the absence of underpass forces the elephants to cross the National Highway. At the same time, people of nearby villages and commuters throng to watch the pachyderms cross the road. They said their playful activities attract them the most.
At the same time, since the possibility of untoward incident is always there, the forest department employees are keeping an eye on the movement of these elephants.
Meanwhile, the pachyderms have now become a constant source of headache for vegetable growers. While they have been destroying acres of vegetable crops, the forest department is hardly doing anything to protect their crops from the marauding elephants. The farmers are spending sleepless nights.
In this regard, Arabinda Majhi, a member of an organization working for animals, said, “Since food for the elephants is available on Brahmani river bed and Mahabirod range aplenty, they go there regularly. After having food, they quench their thirst in the river and return back to their habitat. They feel safe there.”
Referring to the importance of underpass, Pradyumna Rath said the herd has been passing the NH daily. It poses threat to the lives of both elephants and human beings. So, the place already marked as an elephant corridor should have an underpass. Both the National Highway Authority of India and the forest department should consider this carefully and take necessary steps.
When contacted, Dhenkanal DFO Prakash Chand Gogineni said, “It is uncommon of elephant herds to stay at a place for a longer period. This herd has chosen Nimidha and Matharagadi jungles as their habitat because they are having their favourite grass grown on the Brahmani river bank. Forest department employees and members of elephant squad are keeping a close watch on their movement.”
PNN