BARIPADA: A horse will take on the herd of 70 elephants which is holed up in Asanbani forests under Rashgobindpur Forest Range after crossing over from neighbouring West Bengal.
Forest officials have deployed the horse a few kilometres from the forest where the elephants have been staying put for the last three days.Rashbobindpur Forest Range Officer Dillip Kumar Barik said odour from dung, urine and body of a horse acts as a repellent for elephants who try to stay away from the smell.
The horse master has been asked to take the animal around the places near the forest where the herd is residing.
“We have adopted this measure as traditional methods of bursting crackers, making bon-fires and beating drums have been ineffective to drive the elephants away, he explained. Earlier, trained elephants were used for similar purpose.The idea to use horse to drive away the elephants away is a new one and was adopted last year when it brought success, officials added.A minimum remuneration is also being provided to the horse master by the Forest department, Barik said. Deployment of the horse will be in addition to the police force, APR, two mobile teams from Rashgobindpur range, staff from Udala, Dukura and Kaptipada ranges as well as locals.
At least 70 elephants have sneaked into Mayurbhanj district from West Bengal. However, as another herd of 40 elephants has stayed put at the bordering Deuli forest, this group is not moving out.
Usually, the elephant herds are seen in Mayurbhanj and Balasore districts in the months of October and November when the paddy is ripe for harvest. Besides paddy, mahula flowers, mahuli pooch and liquor ingredients also attract elephants.
This herd of 70 jumbos has already damaged standing crops and fruit orchards in Rashgobindpur range.
Every year, elephants from West Bengal and Dalma forest of Jharkhand sneak into Mayurbhanj and later move to Kuldiha wildlife sanctuary. During their stay here, the jumbos damage orchards, houses and crops worth lakhs of rupees.