Jamshedpur, Aug. 31: The late monsoon is upsetting the migration schedule of the elephants of the Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary.

Each year, in the month of September, elephants leave the reserve area and head to Purulia, West and East Midnapore districts. They return to sanctuary before the start of the summer season, around mid-February.

Migration usually depends on the cultivation of paddy crops in the villages that fall along the migratory route of the tuskers.

“The elephants start moving only after paddy crops start sprouting. Right now, the situation is not favourable for them and we are keeping a watch on their movement,” said Sushil Oraon, range officer of Dalma.

Paddy cultivation has been delayed due to the late arrival of monsoon. Rains hit the state on June 29, about three weeks late. Moreover, the monsoon was also weak and rainfall was in deficit in most parts of the state.

According to initial estimate, the migration of elephants this year is expected to get delayed by at least 20-25 days. To attract the tuskers in the summer, the sanctuary has built 72 waterholes around the sanctuary.

As per the last wildlife census, the sanctuary area had put the elephant count at 90 that included males, females and calves. Situated around 40km from Jamshedpur, the Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary is spread across 195sqkm.

Oraon conceded that the migrating herds of wild elephants create problems for the neighbouring villages, especially those that fall on their route. They often trespass into the villages and paddy fields in search of food.

“Trekkers will be deployed to keep a watch on their movement. The department will also organise awareness programmes in the villages and inform them in advance and also train them in order to avoid any man-animal conflict,” added Oraon.