Elephant count set to go up at Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary
Elephant count set to go up at Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary
Jayesh Thaker, The Telegraph India
April 8, 2021
See link
https://www.telegraphindia.com/jharkhand/elephant-count-set-to-go-up-at-dalma-wildlife-sanctuary/cid/1811939
for photo.
The elephant count at Dalma wildlife sanctuary is all set to pep up during
the census as foresters have spotted around 20 calves inside the sprawling
192 sq km sanctuary, 30 km from Jamshedpur.
The calves have been spotted with herds at both the eastern and western
forest range of the sanctuary. Calves were also seen with a herd near the
Chotka Bandh watering holes on Wednesday evening.
“Calves were born at the Dalma and Bengal jungles. The calves are 5 to 6
months old,” Dalma range officer (West) Dinesh Chandra confirmed.
According to Chandra, animal census is scheduled at the sanctuary in May or
June.
The elephants had migrated to the jungles of West Midnapore and Bankura in
neighbouring Bengal in August-September last year. Some jumbos returned to
Dalma home early while almost all returned in March. There are 155
elephants at Dalma reserve.
A forester said the animal census could be postponed in view of the global
pandemic. “Animal census takes places in May or June but it could be
postponed due to the pandemic. The state government may issue directives to
close the sanctuary. We are keeping our fingers crossed,” he added, with a
request not to be quoted.
However, elephant sighting was drastically low during the day-long animal
census conducted at the sanctuary on June 10 last year. Showers had dashed
hopes of foresters who were looking forward to an impressive elephant count
at the jumbo abode.
Altogether 50 elephants were sighted at the east and west forest ranges
during the census last time. The animal census was based on field surveys
and actual sightings near watering holes.
Since water was abundant at the sanctuary as well as pockets falling
outside it, most of the elephants moved out of the sanctuary in search of
water when the count began. Only a few were sighted during the exercise.
Elephants are roving animals and venture out anywhere. The jumbos chose to
quench their thirst outside their abode during the last census.
Consequently, fewer elephants were sighted
Foresters blamed the timing of census for the decrease in the number of
elephants. “The animal count is usually conducted in May when heat is at
its peak. It usually takes place a week after the annual Bishu Shikar (a
tribal hunting festival). But the exercise had to be postponed in view of
Covid-19. We could have sighted an impressive number of elephants if the
exercise was conducted in May,” one of the foresters said.
Bamboo cottage opens
The bamboo cottage inside the sanctuary was opened for tourists on Tuesday.
The gates of the facility were thrown open after necessary furnishing was
completed.