This monsoon, herds of elephants are often being seen in the Ukhiya and Teknaf forests of the Cox's Bazar South Forest Division. In search of food, wild elephants sometimes leave the forest and come into villages. Local people are delighted by the sight, and many take photographs of the herds, but when the elephants enter settlements they often damage crops and farmland.

Local people say the elephants' routes and habitats must be protected and enough food ensured for them in the forest. Some of the wild elephants look weak and need veterinary care. Proper care and protection of the elephants now in the forest is urgent, they say; otherwise their numbers in the Ukhiya and Teknaf forests could fall and they could one day face extinction there.

Within the Cox's Bazar South Forest Division, elephants are found in the Teknaf, Whykong, Shilkhali, Ukhiya and Inani ranges. During the monsoon, elephants of all sizes move about singly, in pairs or in groups of four or five.

Kyancharan Chakma, a resident of Harikhola village in Whykong and a forest guard, said: "Wild elephants sometimes come into our village. They are also seen in the forest, and one or two come on to the Whykong-Shamlapur link road. We send them back to the forest without harming them. If there were enough food in the forest, the elephants would not come into the villages. The wild elephants in the Whykong range must be protected. There used to be more elephants in this forest; most of those seen now are weak."

Enamul Haque of Jahajpura in the Shilkhali range said a herd was seen in the Jahajpura garjan forest area only recently. "It was lovely to see the herd. The elephants often get into farmland and betel nut gardens, which causes some losses to local people. But ensuring the wild elephants' safety is everyone's responsibility. It is a beautiful sight when a herd is seen in the forest, with mother elephants roaming with their calves in search of food."

Mohammad Siraj of Baroitali in the Teknaf Sadar range said herds are seen in the forest next to Baroitali in Hnila union during the monsoon. People often gather to watch them, and many take photos and videos on their mobile phones.

Abdul Gafur, who lives in the Dochhari beat of the Ukhiya range, said: "Seeing the herds in this forest fills my heart. The sight of little calves roaming with their mothers is truly enchanting. Being able to see herds like this in the forest is a joy for us."

Residents say that if the forest and the elephants' routes stay safe, the elephants will be able to roam naturally inside the forest, reducing the risk of them entering villages. Local people must also be tolerant of elephants and, rather than disturbing a herd, should inform the forest department.

Teknaf Sadar Range Officer Abdur Rashid said the forest department is working to ensure the safety and safe movement of wild elephants. When elephants come into villages, the department, with help from local people, sends them back to the forest safely. Herds are often seen while on duty in the forest, but the elephants do not usually harm people, he said.

Monirul Islam, assistant conservator of forests in the Cox's Bazar South Forest Division, said he often visits the hill areas. Only recently he saw five elephants together in the Choyangkhali area, and another group of 11 was also seen moving about. Herds also often roam in the Hnila, Thaingkhali and Dochhari areas. A project to conserve the elephants of the division is under way, and work to protect their safe habitats and routes is continuing, he said.

Md Shahinur Islam, assistant conservator of forests and range officer of the Ukhiya range, said a herd came to the Dochhari beat area the night before last, roamed for a while and went back towards the forest. Herds of 14, 10, seven or five elephants are often seen in the area, and elephant movement is highest in the Dochhari beat of the Ukhiya range, he said.

He said a special forest department team is working to make sure elephants do not harm people and people do not harm elephants. When elephants come into villages, the team goes quickly to the spot to bring the situation under control and send the elephants safely back to the forest.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.