Elephants from Uttarakhand spotted near Nahan

In an unsettling turn of events, elephants from Rajaji National Park in Uttarakhand have been spotted near Nahan in Himachal Pradesh’s Sirmaur district. Over the past two years, these elephants, typically confined to areas around Paonta Sahib, have ventured further into Himachal territory. Recent sightings in Bela village, around 10-12 km from Nahan, captured on mobile cameras, show two adult elephants and a calf.

The unexpected arrival of the elephants has left villagers on edge, fearing for their safety and their crops. Residents of Bela reported that the elephants entered their fields, causing significant damage. In response, the villagers managed to drive the animals back into the nearby forest with coordinated efforts. The Forest Department, notified of the incident, has advised caution and requested that residents report any further sightings.

The increasing presence of elephants in agricultural areas has been a rising concern for the region. Since leaving their traditional paths in Uttarakhand, the elephants have caused extensive damage to farmlands in the Paonta Sahib and Nahan forest divisions, leading to considerable losses for farmers. Tragically, human encounters with the elephants have led to fatalities; in the past two years, two individuals, including a woman, lost their lives in confrontations, with incidents reported in both the Kolar range of the Nahan Forest Division and the Majra range in Paonta Sahib.

Experts believe that disruptions to traditional migration routes, including infrastructure projects like the Dehradun-Delhi highway, have forced elephants into populated areas in Himachal Pradesh. In response, the Forest Department has enhanced its anti-depredation efforts under Divisional Forest Officers Awani Bhushan Rai and Aishwarya Raj.

Measures include community meetings, early warning systems, and the use of vehicle-mounted loudspeakers to alert residents.