Herd of 38 Elephants Returns to Dalma After Three Years

Jamshedpur: A herd of 38 elephants—including five calves—has returned to the Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary after nearly three years. Forest officials believe this homecoming will restore ecological balance and significantly reduce human-elephant conflict in the region.

The herd re-entered Dalma via its traditional corridor, traversing the historic Kakrajhor–Burudih–Narsinghpur–Suklara–Dalapani–Amda hill route near the West Bengal border. The elephants have now settled near the Manjhla Dam, a vital water source deep within the sanctuary.

The return has energized the Forest Department, as elephant trumpets once again echo through the Dalma forests—a vital indicator of a healthy ecosystem.

An official from the Jamshedpur Forest Division explained the significance of the move: “For three years, elephants deviated from their traditional paths, causing a surge in human-elephant conflicts across Chakulia, Baharagora, and Ghatshila. These deviations led to tragic losses of life and property. To address this, our Quick Response Team spent the last two months working extensively to steer the herds away from populated areas.”

During the operation, night patrols utilized torches, smoke, firecrackers, and high-intensity “dragon torches” to keep the animals away from human settlements.

Now that the elephants have reclaimed their traditional habitat within Dalma, officials express optimism that conflict incidents will decrease, paving the way for a more stable coexistence between the local population and wildlife.