A group of four elephants and one young calf is creating worry in many villages near Kanha National Park, which is also called Kanha-Kisli National Park. These elephants moved from the Achanakmar landscape and reached the border of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. For almost three weeks, people living in these places have seen the elephants walking near their homes. This has caused fear because the elephants often enter the villages suddenly.
Where The Elephants Are Moving
In the last 15 to 20 days, the elephants have moved through many forest areas and farmland around the two states. Forest officials think the group came from the Achanakmar Tiger Reserve. There is a natural path from that reserve to Kanha National Park, and the elephants may be trying to follow this path.
When the elephants reached the villages of Shairlidadar and Gadhidadar, villagers tried to stop them from entering houses. People used loud sounds, steel plates, and firecrackers to make the elephants change direction. After this, the elephants moved toward the Sathiya forest in the Dindori area. This place is very close to the Chhattisgarh border, so it is difficult for forest teams from both states to watch the elephants all the time.
Impact On Villages
Most damage happens at night when it is dark. The elephants enter the villages when people are resting inside their homes. Many houses have been damaged because the elephants push doors and walls or walk through open areas near houses. Farms have also been harmed, especially crops that are ready for harvest. This has created problems for families who depend mainly on farming for their income and food.
Because of this, many villagers stay awake at night to protect their houses, animals, and fields. People avoid going out after dark because they are afraid the elephants may suddenly come near them. The overall situation in these villages is tense. Families worry about their safety and their property, but they keep trying to handle the situation in the best way they can.
Work By The Forest Department
The forest department has sent a team of about 20 to 25 staff members to follow the elephants and support the villagers. The team members work in shifts so that someone is always available. Their work is to track the movement of the elephant group, guide villagers on safe actions, and lower the chances of direct contact between elephants and people.
Officials have asked villagers to stay alert, not walk in the forest at night, and report any elephant sighting at once. Information about the elephants is shared through mobile phones. Villagers have also been asked to keep small fires outside their houses at night. This helps in stopping the elephants from coming too close. Forest officers hope the elephants will soon return to their usual routes, which will reduce the problems for the villagers.
List Of Affected Villages
The elephants have been seen in many areas, including Dhanwahi, Sajjatola, Chendradadar, Shairlidadar, Gadhidadar, Koylari, Daldali, Mukam, and nearby villages. In these places, several families have suffered damage to their houses and farmland. Houses of people such as Sundar Singh Baiga and Baldev Singh Baiga have already been affected by the movement of the elephants.
Basic Facts About Elephants
Elephants are the biggest land animals. African elephants are larger than Asian ones. They live in family groups, led by the oldest female, called the matriarch. Elephants eat around 200 kg of plants daily and drink 150 liters of water. They may enter human areas if food is scarce.
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