Elephant care unit to come up in Rajgangpur (Rourkela) Malay Ray, Times of India April 1, 2025 The forest department has announced plans to establish a decentralised elephant care unit in Rajgangpur range under Rourkela forest division of Sundargarh district. The facility will be set up across 7.9 hectares in the Datni reserve forest near Dharampur village under Alanda beat. "The rescue centre will be very helpful in minimising man-animal conflict," said Sujit Sahu, assistant conservator of forests, Rajgangpur forest range. The unit aims to provide treatment for injured, diseased and rogue elephants within the Rourkela circle. It will also care for orphaned calves and facilitate scientific research on problematic elephants in their natural habitat. The announcement comes amid rising human-elephant conflicts in the region. Several lives have been lost across Rourkela, Sundargarh and Bonai forest divisions, while multiple elephants have been injured in various incidents, including train accidents. However, the project has faced resistance from local communities. Residents of Kukudamunda and Alanda panchayats recently protested, claiming they weren't consulted about the facility. They have submitted a petition to the Sundargarh district collector, expressing concerns about their livelihood and suggesting alternative locations with higher elephant movement. Responding to the concerns, ACF Sahu clarified, "The elephant care unit will be established in the reserve forest and NOC is not required from panchayat." Survey and demarcation work for the facility has already commenced. Sources said that a similar unit is also planned for the Keonjhar forest division. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhubaneswar/elephant-care-unit-to-come-up-in-rajgangpur/articleshow/119879233.cms