BARIPADA: A herd of wild elephants has been wreaking havoc in Betnoti forest range area of Mayurbhanj district for the last couple of days. People have been spending sleepless nights to protect their houses and crops from the marauding herd. Baripada DFO Bijay Kumar Panda said as many as 75 elephants, including 12 calves, from Dalma forest of Jharkhand have strayed into the Betnoti forest through Nayagram area of West Bengal. They have destroyed standing crops over several acres en route. The forest officials said elephants that came out from Asanbani forest at night sneaked into the human habitations destroying houses and damaging property.“In the morning they were again back in the forest. They have damaged houses in Bhaliadi and Saria villages besides standing crops,” said forest ranger Basanta Mohanty. People of Ghulamuha, Astia, Chitrada, Sirshapal, Samardihi, Dangarbila, Gadigan, Phulbadia, Makund and Chhatna villages are the worst affected by the elephant menace. Sources said a squad of 15 trained people along with forest personnel of Rasgobindpur and Betnoti range are keeping a close watch over the movement of the elephants.“We are monitoring their movement. We cannot use drums or crackers to drive them away as this will scare the calves and the herd will stray into human habitations,” said Mohanty. The DFO has assured the villagers of compensation as per the norms.
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