Elephant movement sparks panic in Sundargarh village

An elephant was spotted roaming near Bijuli Khuman village in the Sundargarh Sadar Forest Range of Odisha, sparking concern among residents. Locals have expressed fear after the tusker was seen near the village outskirts. Elephant activity has been frequently reported across different parts of Sundargarh, with the tusker in Bijuli Khuman reportedly damaging crops and breaking houses.

A team from the Forest Department reached the site and is monitoring the elephant’s movement while attempting to drive it back into the forest. Officials confirmed that efforts are ongoing to ensure the animal’s safe return to its habitat.

Recent Elephant Attack in Sardhapali

Earlier on October 17, a person named Ghanshyam Besan was seriously injured in an elephant attack in Sardhapali under the Ujjalpur Forest Range. He is currently undergoing treatment. Forest officials have stated that continuous monitoring is being maintained to prevent similar incidents.

Elephant Herd Returns to Athagarh Forest Range

Separately, on October 15, a herd of elephants that had earlier moved out of the Chandaka forest returned to the Athagarh forest range. However, two elephants from the group became stranded near Nidhipur on Tuesday. With morning approaching, they were unable to return to the forest and were later seen standing in a nearby paddy field.

The Athagarh Forest Department has deployed staff to monitor their movements closely.

Unusual Movement Patterns Observed

According to reports, elephants generally travel during the night and retreat into forested areas before daybreak. In this case, it is suspected that the two elephants failed to return before daylight. When they encountered human presence, they reportedly appeared hesitant and were unable to move forward.

Forest authorities continue to track the movements of the elephants in both Sundargarh and Athagarh regions to ensure safety for both residents and wildlife.