Wild tuskers: Chhattisgarh turns to only woman catcher

In the past three months, the elephants have left five people, including a woman and child, dead in Jaspur district, bordering Jharkhand and Orissa. The total toll, in less than two years, is more than 25. This is apart from the damage to crops and private property, mainly houses of tribals, estimated at over Rs 30 lakh.

Officials estimate there are as many as 32 elephants creating problems in Jaspur, Raigarh, Korba and Sarguja districts of the state, but four have become violent, attacking human beings and damaging crops, property, houses.

Chhattisgarh Chief Wildlife Warden V.S. Silekar, who admits many people are even moving to other areas, confirms Barua is reaching on September 27 to survey the forests. She will set up a base camp and her team will follow once a baseline survey is over.

The whole operation, from catching the elephants to taming them, is likely to take four-six months. ‘‘The gravity of the problem warrants this step,’’ says Silekar.