Jharkhand News: Elephant movement on highway in Palamu sparks caution

THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK

Daltonganj, May 17: Elephants are spending time on the state highway 9. So it’s time to be vigilant when negotiating the state highway that truncates the Palamu Tiger Reserve (PTR) into two halves.

Sometimes a single elephant or elephants in a herd come onto the state highway 9 between Maromar and Bareysarn under the Palamu Tiger Reserve causing panic and fear among the pedestrians, cyclists and bikers most.

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Water Draws Elephants to Roadside

Elephants are coming on the state highway 9 because of the nearby water bodies namely at Haathi Nala and Kohbarwa, which have some water left in this acute summer.

Sources said the soil of Haathi Nala is salty, which this huge herbivore likes most in severe summer.

Forest Official Advises Caution

Forester in charge Paramjit Tiwary told this correspondent, “It’s not at all advisable to outsmart the elephants. Elephants are very intelligent animals.”

“The best course is when there is an elephant on the state highway or herd there, have patience and allow the animals to move forward or backwards in the jungles”, he said.

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In no case and under no circumstances should any passerby, biker, cyclist or motorcyclist make elephants feel disturbed or embarrassed as then the behaviour of the elephant may be too dangerous and life-threatening, reminded Paramjit Tiwary.