Foresters in Bankura are facing the jumbo task of restraining the movement of around 88 elephants, split into multiple groups, who are searching for food at a time when 80 per cent of fields are vacant after the Kharif paddy harvest, putting human habitats at risk.

“As fields are almost empty as harvesting season is almost over and there is no other source of food for animals here, elephants are moving around at various locations in search of food. This has left us with the huge challenge to handle 88 odd elephants, the largest herd in the area in recent memory,” said Umar Imam, the divisional forest officer, Bankura north division.

“However, around 100 foresters are relentlessly tracking the movement of elephants,” he added.

The number of elephants in Bankura north division increased after a fresh herd of 30 entered the district from West Midnapore on January 10.

“This is the highest number of elephants we are handling at one time in a division in recent memory. Senior forest officials and staff from various ranges have been deployed in crisis zones. Over 100 foresters, including the divisional forest officer, are spending sleepless nights since January 10, monitoring the animals,” said a source.

Several foresters, who have worked in elephant zones in Jungle Mahal districts, said elephants usually came from Dalma range of Jharkhand and Odisha in search of ripe crops.

“Though a large number of crops are damaged during the stay of the elephants, the crops help save human lives. Right now, that buffer is almost gone. There are a few potatoes or cabbages on the field, but they’re only 20 per cent of the total cultivated land. The situation is manageable if there are 30-40 elephants but this number is more than double,” said a senior forest officer.

Foresters said that the new herd from West Midnapore, especially “one or two particularly rough elephants”, were creating problems.

Three people were killed and a forester was injured by elephants in Bankura in the past 10 days.

Sources said 15 persons were killed by elephant attacks in the past six months in the district.

Sources said that ruling Trinamul is worried about elephant attacks and the anger of people as the party fears it could impact votes ahead of the panchayat polls.