Ruthless mining triggers migration of elephants in Orissa

Baripada, Jul 18 (UNI) Ruthless mining activities, increasing number of industries, habitat destruction and search for new feeding grounds have been triggering large-scale migration of elephants in Orissa.

A four-member expert team expressed this opinion here today during their visit to Keonjhar district to study the moods and behaviour of a tusker, which was blocking movement of traffic at frequent intervals on NH-215 since the past six moths.

The team included the Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), Conservator of Forests, Baripada Circle, Deputy Director of the Simlipal Tiger Reserve (STR) and the DFO, Keonjhar.

The experts said among various other reasons, iron mining activities in Nuamundi perhaps made the tusker restive and forced it to migrate from its habitat.

The animal stops vehicles on the highway and searches for grains.

However, it leaves the place and allows the traffic to move once it consumes some food, the team said, adding that the tusker had not harmed any human being so far.

The expert team would soon submit a report suggesting ways and means to reduce man-animal conflicts in the area.

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