Bishnupur celebrates the birth of Sharada the baby elephant
A surprising twist in Bishnupur ’s jungle—what began as a tense human-elephant standoff over crop damage transformed into a community celebration with the birth of a baby elephant.
Only a few days ago, the farmers of Bishnupur were at their wit’s end, wrestling with a sizeable elephant herd that had decided to throw a rampage through the fields. Acres of crops were left in tatters, and the poor farmers were nearly tearing their hair out in frustration. The forest rangers, too, were having a devil of a time keeping the pachyderms at bay. The situation had all the makings of a classic human-elephant standoff, and the good folk were braced for another round of crop devastation.
But lo and behold, what a little miracle can do! Overnight, the story flipped right on its head with the birth of a baby elephant. Suddenly, the disgruntled farmers, forest rangers of Bishnupur, and even the Elephant Squad turned into enthusiastic caretakers. The jungle was abuzz with excitement, as if they were preparing for a royal visit. The herd was given a wide berth, with everyone from villagers to forest rangers standing guard to ensure the safety of the mother and her precious little one.
In fact, as the herd made its way back to the jungle, a few mischievous elephants couldn’t resist taking a swipe at the rice crops on their path. Strangely enough, the farmers, usually quick to voice their displeasure, were too besotted with the newborn to complain. “Let them be, they’re just passing through with the little one,” murmured one farmer, waving off the damage with an affectionate shrug.
This scene unfolded in the jungles of Bishnupur in the Panchet Division, a region where such human-elephant clashes are usually the order of the day. This time, however, the sight of around 40 elephants gathering protectively around the newborn created a serene atmosphere, one reminiscent of a countryside tea party rather than a jungle dispute.
The head of the Bankadaha Forest Range, Mr. Tapobrata Roy, explained that the herd had been behaving unusually since entering Panchet Division, moving slowly and keeping to a protective formation. “We thought perhaps one of the elephants was unwell,” he recounted. “Little did we know we had a soon-to-be mum in our midst!”
At around three in the afternoon on Monday, in the fields near Chilling Dam, the baby elephant made her grand entrance into the world, surrounded by the doting members of her herd. As dusk fell, the herd began their journey back toward the Rupnarayan Division, with the proud mother nudging her little one gently along the path.
Villagers along the route—such as Bidhu Bhushan Dey and Niranjan Kundu—watched on with a mixture of awe and acceptance. Even as the herd wobbled through, trampling bits of farmland, there was nary a peep of complaint. “As long as they’re safe,” remarked farmer Uttam Dey with a sigh, “we can overlook a bit of damage.”
After traveling a solid 15 kilometres, the elephants sought rest in the forest’s banana grove, carefully nestled between the borders of Bankura and West Medinipur. Along the way, villagers extended a helping hand to forest rangers, making sure the herd could proceed undisturbed.
And for the star of the show—a little female calf named Sarada, after nearby Joyrambati—she quickly became a local celebrity. As Mr. Biren Kumar Sharma of the Panchet Forest Division of Bishnupur remarked, “We’re relieved she’s here safe and sound. None of us could tell the mother was expecting, but thanks to the villagers and forest workers, all went well.”
In a region known more for its human-elephant conflict than its camaraderie, Sarada’s birth has brought a refreshing breath of goodwill, reminding everyone of the beauty in a new life—even one that comes wrapped in an elephant’s hide.
Cover picture and News sources Anandabazar.
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