Elephant strolling through markets, residential areas in Haridwar raises concerns M S Nawaz, The Times of India April 4, 2025 See link <https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/dehradun/elephant-strolling-through-markets-residential-areas-in-haridwar-raises-concerns/articleshow/119955550.cms> for photo. Haridwar: A 40-year-old male elephant that frequently strolls through markets and residential areas of Haridwar has become a concern for the forest department. While wild elephants often cross over from Rajaji Tiger Reserve (RTR) into the town in search of food, this tusker refuses to return, despite multiple efforts by forest teams. On Tuesday, it entered a private hospital in Bahadrabad through the main gate, took a stroll around the complex, and exited through the rear gate without harming anyone. A few days earlier, it was spotted wandering through a busy market. Forest officials say the elephant is not aggressive, but its unpredictable behavior remains a concern. Elephant herds typically cross the Shyampur range near RTR, reach the sugarcane belt beyond the Ganga, and return before dawn, said forest officials. However, this tusker has broken the pattern, choosing to stay near the Upper Ganga Canal in Bahadrabad. It frequently crosses markets and residential areas, even during rush hours, to reach the sugarcane fields. After feasting, it returns to the protected forest area. Haridwar divisional forest officer (DFO) Vaibhav Kumar told TOI, "This tusker prefers staying in the city, roaming its streets and markets. We plan to relocate it permanently after installing a radio collar, especially in light of the upcoming Kanwar and Kumbh Melas." Additional forest guards have been deployed to prevent man-animal conflict, and residents have been asked to stop filming the elephant to avoid provoking a reaction, said Kumar. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/dehradun/elephant-strolling-through-markets-residential-areas-in-haridwar-raises-concerns/articleshow/119955550.cms