Two calves joined the herd of 25 tuskers staying in deep forests of Tundi block of Dhanbad recently prompting the forest department to caution the local residents to venture near their habitat.

All this, as the elephants like any other animal remain extra cautious about the safety of newborn and keep strict monitoring of any movement near their habitat.

Confirming the development, Vinod Thakur, ranger of forest department in Tundi, “Yes the female members of herd gave birth to two calves recently at Pathalgarki village where they are staying at present.”

“We have apprised the local residents of surrounding villages to remain overcautious as the herd remains very alert during this period and dislike the movement of anybody around the area” said Thakur and added that more or less the herd remains quite peaceful during the period unless provoked for some reason” said Thakur.

“The area has lots of green vegetation and also sufficient water sources as we have constructed a check dam in the area to ensure sufficient water supply for them,” added Thakur.

“The herd has been staying in Tundi since December 21 and since some time the movement of the herd has been less, indicating the arrival of some members in their family” said Thakur.

Divisional forest officer of Dhanbad, Vimal Lakra, said. “The period is quite crucial for the herd and also for those living in the vicinity as they like any other animal, the pachyderms remains apprehensive about the safety and security of the new born.”

“As the tuskers avoid moving to any new location during the period they also work in quite organized members with different duties assigned to different members,” said Lakra.

“Some members assigned with the task of security keep a close watch on movement of any stranger in the area while others including the mother of the new born remain engaged in feeding and rearing the new born while others procure the fodders and water for the herd,” said Lakra.

“As the period is quite sensitive so the forest dwellers should remain overcautious and refrain from moving towards their habitat,” said Lakra and added that even when a person moving in an area can’t site the elephants they the herd members might by watching their movement so it time for forest dwellers to remain quite alert and avoid moving near them."

Notably the forest department in order to restrict the movement of elephants in outskirts of forests has developed a number of check dams to create perennial water source for them.