Daltonganj: The South Division of Palamu Tiger Reserve (PTR) issued an alert after a lone tusker was spotted 8km from Mahuadanr market in Latehar district in the intervening hours of Tuesday and Wednesday.The presence of the elephant has raised concerns among the officials of PTR’s south division as the market is witnessing a surge in footfall ahead of Diwali and Chhath festivities. The elephant retreated into the Kurund forest in Mahuadanr range.“The elephant is moving alone. Foresters have advised locals to not enter the forests of Kurun valley and remain vigilant,” Kumar Ashish, deputy director (south division), said. Locals have also urged villages to avoid venturing close to the elephant for taking selfies or videos, Ashish said.Officials said the onset of winter increases the risk of human-elephant encounters as villagers often venture into forests to collect dry firewood. Reduced visibility due to morning fog and early sunsets can make spotting wild animals difficult.
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