Elephant herd from Dalma now roaming in Mayurbhanj

A herd of 80 elephants from Dalma Sanctuary strayed into Mayurbhanj district of the state, forest officials said.
Odisha Forest department has deployed specially-trained personnel for smooth movement of a large herd of elephants which entered the woods in Mayurbhanj yesterday, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Baripada, Sanjay Swain said.
The 80-member herd, including six tuskers, came from Dalma elephant sanctuary in the adjoining Jharkhand and reached Suliapada forests yesterday through West Bengal, he said.
The herd is believed to have taken the elephant corridor linking Dalma Sanctuary and Odisha forests through West Bengal forests, he said.
The DFO also refuted the charge put by neighbouring West Bengal that Odisha government has put up barricades on the traditional elephant corridor thwarting about 80 Dalma elephants' 'normal movement'.

West Bengal Forest Minister Binay Krishna Burman had also alleged on October 31 that efforts were on by Odisha forest department to set up blockades along the corridor of the elephants.
The herd is now roaming around the Asanabani forests under Betanoti forest range under Baripada division and appeared to be heading towards Kuldiha sanctuary in Balasore district, Swain said.
However, the herd had not harmed anybody and only caused damage to standing paddy crops, he said.