Guwahati: A video circulated on social media on Wednesday showed three wild elephants moving through the Panjabari-Bagharbari area of Guwahati, triggering concern among residents.Following the sighting, Forest Department personnel reached the area and began efforts to drive the elephants back towards the forest. Firecrackers were used to deter the animals from moving further into populated areas.Ashok Kumar Dev Choudhury, divisional forest officer, Kamrup East, said the elephants were regular visitors to the area and belonged to the population that moved through Narengi Cantonment, adjacent to Amchang Wildlife Sanctuary.“The cantonment itself serves as an elephant habitat, with the animals frequently moving through the area and occasionally venturing closer to locations where people are present,” he said.“There is no specifically designated elephant corridor in the area, as the elephants generally move within their natural habitat,” Choudhury said.He said the movement of elephants was monitored, particularly when they approached human settlements or areas with regular public activity. When the animals moved closer to populated areas, the forest department monitored them and used firecrackers to drive them away, if required.Choudhury said official records showed that elephants regularly stayed in and moved around the cantonment area because of its proximity to Amchang forest landscape.He urged residents to maintain a safe distance from the animals, avoid disturbing them and refrain from approaching them when elephants were spotted in residential areas.
