Bald Hill Platation for the Elephants

The story below was shared by Mr. Dash, from India. It is about how 6.000 tree saplings were planted in order to create a comfortable and healthy habitat for an elephant herd.

“Kankadbolu” is a bald hill in Odisha, India. Forty percent of its westward side is covered with crops while the eastward surface presents bushes but no trees.

In 2016 a large herd of elephants (around 30 individuals) ventured into the Sal Forest area close to the campus of Dandimal College. When the elephants got too close, people would surround and harass the herd. At some point, the herd fled the site and took refuge in the foothills of Kankadbolua.

Elephants usually avoid sunlight, preferring to hide in the shade. However, this side of the hill had no tree cover, so they had to stay under direct sunlight.

This situation made me puzzled. I reported it to the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Dhenkanal, and talked with the local Sarpanch and youth club to promote a tree plantation in that area.

Finally, the support to go forward with the activity was granted by the DFO under the MGNREGA scheme in 2021, and the local community came together to plant the trees.

Nearly six thousand saplings were planted in a 7-hectare piece of land. Among others, Karanj, Amla, Bamboo, native mangoes, Tentli, Jamun, Neem, and Arjun, were planted.

I visited the site on August 11, 2024, to assess the tree growth in the planting site. The growth rate of the planted trees looked good. According to locals, some wild boars and barking deer have been sighted after the planting.

I’m extremely thankful to the DFO Dhenkanal and the former DFO Mr. Prakash Chand Gogineni for their kind support, and to the staff of the Gadasila Forest Section. I also extend my gratitude to the people of Gadasila Gram Panchayat for taking care of this plantation site. My sincere gratitude to the Sarpanch of Gadasila GP, to Mr. Tarun Kant Mohanty, a Range Officer of Dhenkanal Range, and to youth club members who participated in the tree-planting activity.