West Bengal jumbos to do patrol work in U.P.'s Dudhwa sanctuary

Jalpaiguri, Mar 21 : Jaldapara, a wildlife sanctuary in West Bengal has shifted five trained jumbos to the Dudhwa National Park in Uttar Pradesh, which will be used as patrol animals to monitor the rhino rehabilitation centre and the tiger reserve.

Two male elephants- Gajraj and Mohanlal and three female-elephants- Madhu, Chameli and Sulochana have been roped in for the project.

The elephants are aged between five and ten years and are being shifted as there is a surfeit of pachyderms in the Jaldapara sanctuary.

Dhudwa National Park officials informed that the elephants have been shifted to monitor the animal movement in the Terai region, especially during the monsoons.

P.P. Singh, a forest official, said Jaldapara has nearly 56 trained elephants at present and is shifting some elephants to other national sanctuaries in return for money.

"This is an understanding between the forest departments of UP and West Bengal. We are having surplus elephants and will donate them as they need them for patrolling and other such works," endorsed S.S. Bist, principal chief conservator and warden, wildlife and biodiversity, West Bengal.

Currently, there are 25 rhinos at the rhino rehabilitation centre in Uttar Pradesh.

ANI