Distressed by the mining in the forests, Chhattisgarh’s elephants moving to Madhya Pradesh

Bhopal— Elephants distressed by the rapidly spreading mining operations in the forests of Chhattisgarh have made a new home in Madhya Pradesh (MP). According to experts, elephants have returned to this state after a period of 100 years. Before their return, the elephants used to come up to the borders of Madhya Pradesh for a while but then go back. Forest and wildlife experts believe that Madhya Pradesh is the real home of these elephants who have now returned here. In order to provide a secure environment for the elephants, the Forest Department has delineated a "safe corridor" through Anuppur, Singrauli, Sidhi and Shahdol. Entry for the general public has been restricted here.

The Mooknayak spoke to Kshitij Kumar, Forest Divisional Officer, Sidhi district, Madhya Pradesh, in this regard. Kumar explained that movement of elephants from Chhattisgarh has often been observed here. We have made a safe corridor for the security of elephants. The movement of elephants is monitored carefully.

Elephants spotted roaming at MP border since 2002

According to local people, elephants from Chhattisgarh started coming towards Madhya Pradesh around 2002. After staying for a few months of the monsoon season they would go back. Experts believe that the elephants are now staying on in MP because they find the environment here better and safer than that in the neighbouring state. Forest officials in Madhya Pradesh have said that elephants are being distressed by the mining operations within the forests of Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Jharkhand. This is the reason why they are searching for a safer place for themselves. And now they have been feeling more secure in the forests of Madhya Pradesh.

A growing herd of elephants in Bandhavgarh, MP

In the Tiger State of Madhya Pradesh, after 1920, it is now in 2022, that the government has made an official announcement that Madhya Pradesh is also becoming an Elephant State. Bandhavgarh, which is famous for tigers, is now focusing on encouraging more herds of elephants. With 50 elephants, this area has the most elephants in the state. Then there are ten elephants in Sanjay National Park, Sidhi district. What is interesting is that elephants are "setting up camp" in the Sidhi region.

The elephants were also divided

According to experts, there were no elephants in Madhya Pradesh after 1920. In 1987, for the first time, after partition, Surguja became part of Chhattisgarh. In 1993, 18 elephants were caught here in Madhya Pradesh. After the formation of Chhattisgarh in 2001, these elephants were also divided. Half of them were given to Madhya Pradesh and half were given to Chhattisgarh. Today, these elephants are helpful in tiger tracking.

5 years ago, elephants began to stay here for some time

While talking to The Mooknayak, Y.P. Singh, Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF), Sanjay Gandhi Tiger Reserve, Sidhi, said that the movement of elephants has been observed in Madhya Pradesh since 2002. Presently 10 elephants continue to stay here. Four of them are male elephants and three each are female and baby elephants. He told us that one of these elephants has separated from the herd and gone to Shahdol forests.

The Hathi Mitra Dal

The CCF reported that usually elephants are quite intelligent animals, and they prefer to live in herds. Occasionally in a year, we receive information about elephant movement in the area around a village. For such situations, we have formed a WhatsApp group in the village, which includes the sarpanch (village head) and a few other people. These people inform us about the presence of elephants around the village. The CCF further said that a Hathi Mitra Dal [Friends of Elephants Team] had been formed along with people from the village. Training is provided to the team from time to time. Elephants, he said, attack humans only if they have sensed danger.

Madhya Pradesh also part of "Project Elephant"

After the news of the elephant habitat in Madhya Pradesh, the union government has included the state in Project Elephant. According to one media report, an initial amount of about 15 lakh rupees have also been given by the union government for the care of elephants, although this is not enough. The Forest Department has put in a request for the additional required amount from the state government.

Elephants attracted to smell of mahua and paddy

The CCF, Sanjay Gandhi Tiger Reserve, explained that we are forming a Hathi Mitra Dal in the village. The team will be taught what precautions to take during the time of elephant movement. He says that people from villages adjoining forest areas store mahua outside their houses. A case study of elephant attacks found that the elephants are attracted by the smell and then even destroy the mud houses. We are making efforts to raise awareness among villagers so that elephants do not enter human settlements.

The elephants have spread in 11 districts in MP

Before the partitioning of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, elephant movement was noted in those parts of the SanjayTiger Reserve that is presently in Chhattisgarh (Guru Ghasidas National Park). In the year 2008, elephants reached Sidhi district by entering MP through this very route. When the Forest Department tried to block this route, the elephants opened another route between Bilaspur andAnuppur. Then Dindori to Mandla, and from Lanji, Balaghat, to Seoni, reachingNarsinghpur via Lakhnadon. The elephants have registered their presence in Mandla, Seoni, Singrauli, Anuppur as well asShahdol, Sidhi, Jabalpur, Umaria, and Chhindwara. At present, elephants are actively moving in and around Bandhavgarh, Kanha and Sanjay Dubri Tiger Reserves. It is said that the largest herd of 45 elephants is in the forest of Bandhavgarh, while there are another eight elephants in Sidhi district. In this way, 68 elephants are present in the state.

History of elephants in MP

According to local media reports, there were plenty of elephants in this region [in the past]. Ashok Mohite of Gwalior tells us that according to the Ain-i-Akbari, there had been elephants in the forests of Shivpuri, which was formerly known as Shipri. The writer Abul Fazlalso noted in the Ain-i-Akbari, that, in 1564, Akbar had rested for the night here. He also rested here on his way back. During these times spent here, he had hunted in the forests. While leaving this place, he was accompanied by a whole fleet of elephants. Akbar had also passed through here in the time of the battle of Malwa.

Elephants from Madhya Pradesh in Akbar's army

It is said that these elephants were also used by Akbar in his army. A senior Shivpuri journalist Pramod Bhargava told us that references to hunting of elephants in Shivpuri's forests are also mentioned in the Gwalior Gazetteer. When asked about the number, he said that we do not have any record of how many elephants Akbar took back with him to Delhi.

यहाँ हिन्दी में भी पढ़ें– जंगलों में खनन से बेघर छत्तीसगढ़ के हाथियों ने मध्यप्रदेश में बनाया नया ठिकाना

[Story Translated By Lotika Singha]