Drunk jumbos chasing pregnant women
Discussion
By Shaikh Azizur Rahman in Calcutta
April 09, 2003
FEARING attacks by wild elephants, pregnant women of east Indian state of Jharkhand are climbing trees to give birth to their babies.
In the past two months, in the district of Dumka, at least a dozen pregnant women have delivered their babies on platforms built on treetops.
Duli Marandi, a tribal woman from Jora Am village, delivered a baby boy in a mango tree in February.
Her husband, perched on top of the next tree, watched the birth, being unable to come to her aid because a herd of elephants roamed underneath.
"To prepare her for the delivery I built the machan [platform] on top of the tree three months in advance," said Duli's husband Arjun Marandi, a woodcutter.
"Up there for her I fixed a bed fitted with mosquito net. When she became almost immobile because of her weakness, I took her to safety to the top of the tree."
The same week Sonia Hansda, another tribal woman in the same district, also gave birth to her baby girl after staying in the tree for nearly three weeks. She said she was fortunate enough to get a midwife with her on time.
Days before Sonia was to deliver her baby, her husband Jairam, sensing trouble, built a platform on a tree about 7m above the ground.
One night wild elephants attacked their village. Jairam managed to take Sonia to the treetop platform moments before the rampaging elephants knocked down the mud wall of their house and raided their paddy stock.
Angi Rani, of the Ranudih village in the same district, also gave birth in a tree. Her baby died after being accidentally hit by a stone thrown by a villager to scare away a wild elephant.
Wild elephants have been troubling villagers in many parts of Jharkhand and some neighbouring states.
The animals stray out of their shrinking habitat in the wild in search of food.
A police officer in Dumka said: "Tribals who love rice beer brew the liquor at home. Elephants too are fond of this beer.
"Often it is found that, attracted by the strong smell of the liquor, wild elephants tear down the tribal houses where the brew is stored."
In eastern India last year, about 350 people were killed and hundreds were injured in elephant attacks.
Last year a team of 40 people, armed with drums, sticks, torches and firecrackers, failed to drive the wild elephants away from homes.
Early this year two trained elephants were called in from the northeastern state of Assam to drive away the rampaging pachyderms. They too made little difference.
The forest department is now planning to set up electrified fences around the forests close to vulnerable areas to prevent wild elephants from raiding villages and crops.
The Daily Telegraph
It's sad yet funny at the same time
April 09, 2003
FEARING attacks by wild elephants, pregnant women of east Indian state of Jharkhand are climbing trees to give birth to their babies.
In the past two months, in the district of Dumka, at least a dozen pregnant women have delivered their babies on platforms built on treetops.
Duli Marandi, a tribal woman from Jora Am village, delivered a baby boy in a mango tree in February.
Her husband, perched on top of the next tree, watched the birth, being unable to come to her aid because a herd of elephants roamed underneath.
"To prepare her for the delivery I built the machan [platform] on top of the tree three months in advance," said Duli's husband Arjun Marandi, a woodcutter.
"Up there for her I fixed a bed fitted with mosquito net. When she became almost immobile because of her weakness, I took her to safety to the top of the tree."
The same week Sonia Hansda, another tribal woman in the same district, also gave birth to her baby girl after staying in the tree for nearly three weeks. She said she was fortunate enough to get a midwife with her on time.
Days before Sonia was to deliver her baby, her husband Jairam, sensing trouble, built a platform on a tree about 7m above the ground.
One night wild elephants attacked their village. Jairam managed to take Sonia to the treetop platform moments before the rampaging elephants knocked down the mud wall of their house and raided their paddy stock.
Angi Rani, of the Ranudih village in the same district, also gave birth in a tree. Her baby died after being accidentally hit by a stone thrown by a villager to scare away a wild elephant.
Wild elephants have been troubling villagers in many parts of Jharkhand and some neighbouring states.
The animals stray out of their shrinking habitat in the wild in search of food.
A police officer in Dumka said: "Tribals who love rice beer brew the liquor at home. Elephants too are fond of this beer.
"Often it is found that, attracted by the strong smell of the liquor, wild elephants tear down the tribal houses where the brew is stored."
In eastern India last year, about 350 people were killed and hundreds were injured in elephant attacks.
Last year a team of 40 people, armed with drums, sticks, torches and firecrackers, failed to drive the wild elephants away from homes.
Early this year two trained elephants were called in from the northeastern state of Assam to drive away the rampaging pachyderms. They too made little difference.
The forest department is now planning to set up electrified fences around the forests close to vulnerable areas to prevent wild elephants from raiding villages and crops.
The Daily Telegraph
It's sad yet funny at the same time
You've outdone yourself this time Mrs Fish! 
I do try
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