Pro chasers to tackle Seraikela tusker menace (India)
By B Sridhar, Times of India
January 11, 2013
JAMSHEDPUR: With increased attacks from wild elephants at regular intervals, the Seraikela-Kharswan forest department has resolved to form small groups of trained chasers to prevent loss of life and property in the areas prone to such incidents. Although the department has hired the services of the Purulia-based (in West Bengal) professional chasers team of Bhola Mahato, apparently insufficient strength of trained chasers has made the forest officials increase their number.
The department has taken this decision following the January 5 incident in which a local villager was trampled to death by a wild elephant in Sukradih village in Ichagarh. Seraikela-Kharswan divisional forest officer, A T Mishra said: "After the January 5 incident, we have planned to increase the strength of these young chasers. They will take care to drive away the elephants back to the forests and will do so in a methodical manner."
The 12-member team from West Bengal, which frequents the Singhbhum region whenever called by the forest department, is engaged in a twin task. Besides chasing away the elephants they also extend training to the village boys.
"Not only will the villagers be trained to chase away the elephants back to the Dalma sanctuary but also they will be equipped with necessary tools (crackers, torch light and drums) for effective execution of the job," said a forest ranger.
The department is looking for young men aged between 18 to 25 years to train and preference would be given to those villages that are adjacent to the Dalma forest hill. The department has decided to train about 10 teams each consisting of eight to 10 volunteers, in the first phase. Several villages located on the foothills of Dalma forest in Ichagarh, Chandil, Chowka and Kharswan are prone to wild elephant attacks.
"We need to come up with new bench strength of trained chasers by summer to check fatal incidents in the peak of the season (when elephants tend to descend on to the fields in search of water)," said a Seraikela forester.
In the last 12 months, about a dozen villagers got killed by the elephants in separate incidents in the district.
JAMSHEDPUR: With increased attacks from wild elephants at regular intervals, the Seraikela-Kharswan forest department has resolved to form small groups of trained chasers to prevent loss of life and property in the areas prone to such incidents. Although the department has hired the services of the Purulia-based (in West Bengal) professional chasers team of Bhola Mahato, apparently insufficient strength of trained chasers has made the forest officials increase their number.
The department has taken this decision following the January 5 incident in which a local villager was trampled to death by a wild elephant in Sukradih village in Ichagarh. Seraikela-Kharswan divisional forest officer, A T Mishra said: "After the January 5 incident, we have planned to increase the strength of these young chasers. They will take care to drive away the elephants back to the forests and will do so in a methodical manner."
The 12-member team from West Bengal, which frequents the Singhbhum region whenever called by the forest department, is engaged in a twin task. Besides chasing away the elephants they also extend training to the village boys.
"Not only will the villagers be trained to chase away the elephants back to the Dalma sanctuary but also they will be equipped with necessary tools (crackers, torch light and drums) for effective execution of the job," said a forest ranger.
The department is looking for young men aged between 18 to 25 years to train and preference would be given to those villages that are adjacent to the Dalma forest hill. The department has decided to train about 10 teams each consisting of eight to 10 volunteers, in the first phase. Several villages located on the foothills of Dalma forest in Ichagarh, Chandil, Chowka and Kharswan are prone to wild elephant attacks.
"We need to come up with new bench strength of trained chasers by summer to check fatal incidents in the peak of the season (when elephants tend to descend on to the fields in search of water)," said a Seraikela forester.
In the last 12 months, about a dozen villagers got killed by the elephants in separate incidents in the district.
Article at the following link:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ranchi/Pro-chasers-to-tackle-Seraikela-tusker-menace/articleshow/17974503.cms
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ranchi/Pro-chasers-to-tackle-Seraikela-tusker-menace/articleshow/17974503.cms