Dalma elephants return early from Bengal

A herd of 35 elephants, which had migrated from Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary to Bengal forests around five months back and was supposed to stay put in the neighbouring state till February next year, have come back early on Sunday.

The herd, including tuskers and calves, slipped into the sprawling 192 sq km sanctuary, 30 km from Jamshedpur, in the wee hours of Sunday and is presently stationed inside a jungle. The herd seems to have returned early in search of food.

A forester said the elephants have taken a circuitous route to Dalma Sanctuary. The herd first stayed at Kharsawan for some days before heading to Saraikela and then to Chandil before coming home. “The elephants usually stick to their migratory corridor but the trend has changed this time,” he said.

Dalma range officer (West) Dinesh Chandra confirmed the early homecoming of the elephants. “Dalma jumbos usually leave for the jungles of West Medinipur and Bankura in Bengal in August-September and are back in January-February. The jumbos are welcome home,” he added.

Besides coming home early, the elephants had also migrated to Bengal about a month earlier (in July). “The jumbos generally catch the corridor to Dalma after harvesting season ends in Bengal. However, elephants are moody animals and move as per their whims and fancies. More elephants should be back in the days to come,” another forester said.