Every day more and more forested land is affected by infrastructure projects such as roads and highways. This often prompts wild animals colliding with trafficcausing harm to both animals and humans.
However, these clashes can be minimized by timely intervention by authorities such as the Forest Service. And that is exactly what the department did in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj.
On Wednesday, Susanta Nanda, an Indian Forest Services (IFS) officer, shared videos showing a herd of elephants crossing a human settlement as shocked onlookers filmed them. While sharing this video, the IFS official wrote: “Refugees in their own country. The herd moves in a market in Bangiriposhi Range in Mayurbhanj district.”
The videos were reportedly taken in the Mayurbhanj district of Odisha.
A few minutes later, he shared another video showing the herd more on a one-way street as traffic was stopped. “Salute to the Forest staff for their exceptional work in allowing them safe passage,” Nanda said.
A salute to the forest staff for their exceptional work in providing safe passage. https://t.co/SV3s5jMEHZ pic.twitter.com/XYbORZQ5ny
— Susanta Nanda IFS (@susantananda3) June 22, 2022
Many netizens commended the forest service for intervening to keep animals from colliding with oncoming traffic, while others pointed out that the state is committed to animal-friendly infrastructure such as “Wildlife Bridges” which allow animals to cross roads without colliding with traffic.
First we take away their habitat, then we swear on our backs for offering them safe passage… how ironic 🙄
– Ranjana (@Ranjana98746130) June 23, 2022
“Refugees in their own country” is absolutely correct
— mural idharan, K (@kmdharan) June 23, 2022
@nitin_gadkari @NHAI_Official We need an elephant corridor and a connecting road to connect the road while animals can pass under it! Would you take it as a priority and do it, elephant always follows a route when it’s over, then this is its general itinerary!
— Ashish Mahendra (@ashi_mahe) June 22, 2022
Hopefully they will build a flyover in such regular elephant passages sooner and give the elephants a safer life and movement
— Jayasri Benkal (@BenkalJayasri) June 23, 2022
The government should always provide the animals with a safe corridor for their movements, especially elephants always follow the same route…
— Indian (@4_PurelyIndian) June 22, 2022
This is not a long-term solution
— Cauliflower Farmer (@Cauli_farmer) June 22, 2022
sad condition. Invading their habitat for our selfish gains
— 🇮🇳 નારદમુની 🇮🇳 (@LearningSoul_) June 23, 2022
Echoing this sentiment, a Twitter user commented below one of the videos: “@nitin_gadkari @NHAI_Official we need an elephant corridor and a connecting road to connect the road while allowing animals to pass under it! Would you take it as a priority and do it, elephant always follows a route when it passed, then this is its general itinerary!”
