A 24-hour control room was made functional on Monday at Baripada divisional forest office in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district to monitor the movement of a herd of wild elephants that sneaked into villages from adjoining West Bengal. The jumbos have made extensive damage to the standing Khariff and maize crops in last two days since their arrival, added Swain. The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) Odisha was in contact with his counterpart in West Bengal and information was being shared, Swain said. But this year the jumbos arrived a month in advance thereby making the villagers and forest personnel to spend sleepless nights. Compensation to the tune of Rs 10,000 per acre would given to the victims of jumbo menace for damage caused to crops, the DFO said.

Source: Indian Express September 26, 2016 10:18 UTC