As apprehended, a breakaway herd of elephants following their conventional corridor path has strayed into Nilgiri area from Mayurbhanj district end.
The Forest department clarified that about 80 jumbos in the group are camping in the Gopalpur reserve forest under Nilgiri range.
These elephants were in a herd of 95 jumbos which was in Asanbani under Betnati range of Mayurbhanj. The pachyderms are expected to move further to the Kuldhia Sanctuary.
“About 80 elephants have entered into our territory since Tuesday. They have damaged about eight houses, besides destroying crop fields and devouring paddy and vegetables. A close watch on their movement is being maintained,” said Range Officer Nilgiri Debendranath Pradhan.
He added that Nilgiri has around 10 km long trenches and about 26 km solar fencing is erected to protect human habitation from the entry of jumbos. He said adequate manpower with traditional tools was deployed in the depredation squad.
“Staff from other ranges of the district, besides Nilgiri and Kuldhia have been mobilized to Nilgiri to guide the elephants and provide them safe passages. Civil manpower (Sabuja Bahini) is engaged along with our staffers,” said a forest official.