Baby elephants trundling at the scenic Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary will be a treat for tourists this winter.

Foresters have spotted three calves at Jamdih and Jhunjka jungles near Patamda in East Singhbhum. Both the jungles fall inside the sanctuary.

The calves, all less than a year old, are part of two separate herds. While one calf is part of a herd of 13 elephants, two belong to a group of nine jumbos.

A calf was separated from the herd of 13 elephants when villagers tried to drive them away from a farmland near Bejam village on December 13.

It was captured by the villagers, who clicked selfies with the baby elephant before releasing it in the jungles. The calf has since reunited with the herd.

Dalma range officer (West) Dinesh Chandra said the calves were still in the jungles and were expected to slip into the core area of the sanctuary in due course of time.

“We have come across three calves in two separate herds who have returned from Bengal’s Bankura and West Midnapore jungles. Elephants had left Dalma in August-September as part of their annual migration to Bengal,” he added.

A forester said the elephants would remain anchored in the jungles for sometime as there was no dearth of food and water.

“The calves remain with the herds and rarely leave their mothers, who seem to be over-protective,” he added.

According to him, there may be more calves in other herds who are returning from Bengal.

“But it can be confirmed only when we come across them. But we are nevertheless optimistic about the same,” the forester added.

The number of elephants at Dalma sanctuary, located 30km from Jamshedpur, is around 128. It is all set to swell this time thanks to the addition of calves.

Tourists from Jharkhand, Bengal, Odisha and Chhattisgarh flock the 192sqkm sanctuary in winters. They enjoy the flora and fauna and loves to watch elephants near watering holes. They also visit the Shiva temple at the top and enjoy a panoramic view of the elephant abode from a spot near Hanuman temple.