Wild elephants stray into West Midnapore forest villages

A herd of 100 wild elephants strayed into Sankrail area in West Midnapore district today with one group of jumbos resting at a forested area near the IAF base at Kalaikunda.
A senior forest officer said today group, consisting of 60-70 pachyderms, was not far from the test bombing area of the IAF base, but there was no imminent danger as the herd was not showing any sign to advance further.
The group, which strayed into the area since Sunday, also consisted of 14-15 baby elephants, and was now busy in eating up crops across vast agrarian fields of villages under Sankrail police station area falling under Kharagpur forest range.

Another group of elephants, numbering around 40, was roaming in another side of Sankrail police station area - in pockets like Lalgarh, Pirakata, the officer said, adding, the entire zone falls under Kharagpur Forest Range.
Forest personnel, police and district administration as well as villagers were keeping close tab on the movement of the two groups of elephants, who usually come to this part by crossing river Kangsabati around this time every year from their habitat under Dalma forest range.
The herd came together and split into two groups after crossing Kangsabati.