An unexpected visitor stirred the streets of Ranchi, Jharkhand, as a wild elephant from nearby forests meandered through the city early Friday morning. The Forest Department swiftly orchestrated the animal’s safe return after five hours, averting any potential crises in heavily trafficked areas, said DFO Srikant Verma.
The elephant’s surprise detour led it around Birsa Chowk and Ranchi airport’s vicinity before it was safely escorted back by the forest team. Verma noted that the animal might have strayed during its usual migration pattern, emphasizing the safety protocols enacted during school hours to prevent accidents.
Occurrences of elephants entering urban spaces are not uncommon in Ranchi, with past reports of such events near the Jharkhand Assembly and other city locales. Rising human-elephant conflicts remain a crucial concern, as Chief Minister Hemant Soren underlined, following 27 casualties in recent months due to such encounters across several districts.