In Maoist-hit Gadchiroli, a task for forest officials amid election heat: Tracking down ‘killer’ elephant

The elephant is currently moving in the Sironcha forest division, particularly around the Kamlapur range, an elephant habitat and a Naxal-affected region in Gadchiroli district.

When The Indian Express visited the Kamlapur Elephant Camp at Kamlapur village in Aheri taluka on Tuesday, Range Forest Officer (RFO) Naresh Chauke was out to attend an election-related meeting. The previous night, his team had carried out a nightlong operation to chase away ‘ME3’ from the region.

When contacted, Chauke said, “Despite election duties, we are constantly tracking the elephant that killed two men in Telangana.”

Herd of Elephants at the Kamlapur Elephant Camp in Gadchiroli. (Express photo by Chandan Haygunde)

According to forest officials, elephants mainly travel during the night, which makes the task of tracking their movement difficult. When an elephant is found approaching a village at night, forest officials use thermal drones to track its movements and alert villagers.

During the nightlong operation to track ‘ME3’, forest officials looked for footmarks, dung and other signs like branches felled by the elephant. Wild elephants get extremely aggressive or violent by human presence. So tracking is done with utmost care. Forest officials had also contacted the villagers, appealing to them to not disturb the elephant if they happened to spot it.

Poonam Pate, Deputy Conservator of Forest (DCF), Sironcha division, said the elephant got separated from its herd in Chhattisgarh and entered the forests in Gadchiroli on March 25. Chhattisgarh forest officials have also shared a video of ‘ME3’ with forest officials in Gadchiroli.

Board of Kamlapur Elephant Camp. (Express photo by Chandan Haygunde)

Officials believe ‘ME3’ further entered the forests in Kumuram Bheem Asifabad district in Telangana by crossing the Pranhita river.

In Telangana, the elephant killed two farmers on April 3 and 4, first at Burepally village in Karjelly range and then at Kondapally village in Penchikalpet range. The elephant again entered Maharashtra in Sironcha division, Gadchiroli, around April 5.

“A fisherman spotted the elephant. After receiving information, our teams started extensive patrolling and making people aware about its movement. Along with foot patrolling during the day and night, we are also using drones to track ‘ME3’ and inform villagers about the elephant’s movements so that they can take precautions,” Pate said.

Asked about the threat from Naxals during patrolling in the dense forests, Pate said, “Based on inputs from police and local informers, we avoid going to places where Naxal movement is suspected.” Pate described how Maoists had attacked the Kamlapur Elephant Camp in December 2019. Police said Naxals damaged the infrastructure just because the elephant camp was becoming popular with tourists. Also, police said that in January last year, Naxals had badly thrashed a forest guard of Kamlapur range.

Elephant statues at Kamlapur Elephant Camp vandalised by naxals in December 2019. (Express photo by Chandan Haygunde)

Recently, four Naxals were killed in a police encounter in the vicinity of Kamlapur forest range, Pate said, adding, “The Naxal threat is there. Our teams are working cautiously.”

“So far ‘ME3’ has not caused any loss of lives in Maharashtra and has not even entered any human settlement. The elephant appears to be in rest mode now. But still there is concern after the two attacks in Telangana. Hence, despite election duties and other tasks, we are tracking ‘ME3’. We cannot harm the elephant. The only way is to follow its movements and create awareness among the people.”

An elephant at Kamlapur Elephant Camp. (Express photo by Chandan Haygunde)

Also, forest officials said that steps are being taken to ensure that ‘ME3’ does not harm the elephants at the Kamlapur Elephant Camp. Staffers at the camp are on alert. There are nine elephants, including two calves, at the Kamlapur Elephant Camp. A calf named “Kusum” was born recently on March 26.

“Kusum is healthy. Two female elephants, including Kusum’s mother, are taking care of the baby. Our doctor too is checking the baby elephant regularly,” Pate said.