A new abode for wild pachyderms near Silkcity Berhampur

Reservoir proves a connecting link between villagers and elephants
BERHAMPUR: Efforts for peaceful coexistence of humans and wild elephants are on near Kumbhajhari village on the outskirts of the city. Residents of the area have started to accept the existence of a herd of wild pachyderms in their proximity. A few years ago, the villagers of Kumbhajhari created a small water reservoir on a hill near their village. It was named ‘Jamchuan’. It was initially meant for the cattle of the village. Later, the villagers found that the wild elephants roaming in the area were also getting satisfied with the reservoir and venturing into the village area. Later, they used their village funds to renovate and increase the capacity of the reservoir. The Forest Department also came out to help. The reservoir has proved to be a connecting link of humans and elephants in the area. Villagers maintain the reservoir and elephants in turn have stopped venturing near the human habitat in search of food.
The Berhampur Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Ahay Kumar Jena, said recently the Forest Department took initiative to further increase the capacity of the Jamchuan reservoir. The villagers are employed in the process. Plantations have been increased on the hill to augment ground water reserve inside the hill that feeds streams that connect the reservoir.
A herd of more than ten elephants which had strayed out of Lakhari elephant sanctuary six years ago preferred to stay back near this manmade reservoir on the hill top near Jamajhari village. The new forests developed by the ‘Vana Surakshya Samities’ of villages of the area seem to have satisfied the herd of wild elephants.
This new abode of wild elephants is at a distance of 15 km from Berhampur city. The area is under the Ramaguda reserve forest. The elephants are showing no signs of returning back to their original abode inside the Lakhari sanctuary. Till date the elephant herd has not injured or killed any human in the area although they destroy some paddy fields during the harvesting season.

By Sib Kumar Das (Source: The Hindu)