A ‘makna’ wild elephant entered Raidash Para in Kalyanpur under the Khowai District of Tripura late Thursday, triggering a night-long operation by forest officials, police and local volunteers. The animal was later moved safely towards the forest.
3 Key Takeaways:
- A ‘makna’ elephant entered Raidash Para through paddy fields after crossing local roads.
- Forest officials, police and volunteers monitored the area throughout the night.
- Residents want the elephant corridor identified and a permanent solution to repeated incursions.
Kalyanpur (Tripura) August 14: Residents of Raidash Para faced a tense night after a wild elephant moved into the locality on Thursday. The animal entered the settlement under North Ghilatali Panchayat after crossing nearby roads and paddy fields.
The sudden movement of the elephant created panic among residents. Many people gathered to track its movement while forest personnel and police rushed to the area.
Forest officials identified the animal as a makna, a male elephant without tusks.
Elephant Enters Through Paddy Fields
According to Forest Department officials, the elephant crossed Bagbaber Road and Nakshirai Road before moving through agricultural land.
It then entered the Raidash Para area.
The Forest Department quickly alerted its field teams. Local volunteers also joined the response. A police team from Kalyanpur Police Station reached the spot soon afterwards.
Officer-in-Charge Ashish Sarkar led the police operation.
Officials used sirens and firecrackers to keep the elephant away from houses. They gradually tried to guide it towards the forest.
The operation continued through the night. Forest personnel and local volunteers maintained close watch over the area to prevent the elephant from returning to the habitation.
Elephant Safely Pushed Away
Kalyanpur Range Beat Officer Bipul Chandra Saha said the teams remained on duty throughout the night.
Local residents also assisted the officials during the operation. Their cooperation helped the teams manage the situation without major complications.
By Friday morning, officials had successfully moved the elephant away from the populated area.
Saha said there was no report of major damage from the incident.
The Forest Department, however, remains concerned about the repeated movement of wild elephants towards human settlements.
Food Shortage Linked to Elephant Movement
Forest officials said food shortages in the hilly areas could be driving elephants towards populated locations.
They also pointed to a regular elephant movement route through the North Ghilatali area.
According to forest personnel, elephant herds use this route to move between forest areas. Human settlements along or near the route therefore face a higher risk of encounters with elephants.
The issue has become a growing concern for residents in the region.
Cow Killed in Recent Elephant Attack
The Raidash Para incident comes days after another elephant-related incident in the Kalyanpur area.
Kalyanpur Forest Range Officer Bishu Nandi said a wild elephant attacked a farmer’s cow at Watilong on August 9. The animal died in the incident.
The Forest Department is preparing the required documents to provide compensation to the affected farmer.
An elephant also damaged a small house in Watilong on the same day. Officials are assessing the damage before taking further action.
These incidents have added to concerns among people living close to forest areas.
Residents Reiterate Demand Elephant Corridor Plan
Repeated elephant incursions have left residents worried about their safety and property.
Local people said simply driving elephants back into the forest cannot solve the problem permanently.
They want the authorities to identify the elephant movement corridor in the area. They have also called for long-term measures to prevent elephants from entering residential locations.
Residents believe better monitoring of the corridor could help authorities respond before elephants reach populated areas.
They have urged the Forest Department to develop a coordinated strategy involving forest officials, local communities and other agencies.
The latest incident has once again highlighted the growing challenge of human-elephant conflict in Tripura. For residents of Raidash Para and nearby areas, identifying and protecting elephant movement routes could be key to reducing future encounters.
