The news of sudden reappearance of Dhurbe has brought the long-drawn doubts to rest. The bull elephant had unexpectedly disappeared after it was chased by security personnel from land and helicopter. Though the wild jumbo purportedly sustained bullet, it had been difficult to confirm its death without finding the body.
But how else could it be assumed that such a ferocious elephant was still alive after it was not seen in the village for years? The status of Dhurbe became mysterious. The long-drawn doubt came to an end after journalists saw Dhurbe on Sunday (April 15). The news of Dhurbe’s return has, however, reignited fear among the locals. The reason is obvious: The terror unleased by Dhrube elephant was not ordinary.
Dhrube, who had killed 15 people in a span of three years in Chitwan before going out of contact in 2013, was another name for death to the residents of villages adjoining Chitwan National Park—Meghauli, Madi of Chitwan and Nirmalbasti of Parsa. His notoriety spread rapidly across the country after he killed four people in Madi, Chitwan within a month after November 2012. He made news headlines for a long time. People started calling ‘Dhurbe Hatti’ to those who are unkind and anarchic. Only last year, an opposition party leader likened ‘the government to Dhrube elephant’. Everyone was startled when the news broke that the rogue tusker was still alive.
However, the way Dhurbe was spotted on Sunday morning has shown that his terrific activities will most likely be confined to the past. Journalists got a chance to capture his photographs from a distance of around 200 meter. It’s not that he was unaware about the presence of human beings near him. Unbelievably, the elephant that used to go berserk as soon as he saw human beings around him remained calm even when journalists captured his snaps from a close distance.
Love-struck Dhrube
There was a reason for Dhrube to remain indifferent to human presence. Next to him was a female elephant (Tirthamankali) from Chitwan National Park (CNP)’s Sukhibhar Post. And it wasn’t easy for him to find the intimacy with Tirthamankali. The national park had kept another male elephant Parasgaj and Tirthamankali at Sukhibhar Post. According to the CNP officials, Dhrube had been following Tirthamakali for the past one month.
Fortunately, Dhurbe got a chance to spend the night with his love on the first day of Nepali New Year (April 14). He obviously had to do some damage after entering the post. He used his strength to break the iron chains tied to Tirthamankali. He even attacked another male elephant kept at the post when the latter tried to retaliate. After sustaining some injuries, Parasgaj gave in. And then Dhurbe took Tirthamankali towards jungle by breaking her chain. Perhaps due to his all night long love, Dhurbe looked peaceful in the morning. He didn’t even care for the people who came near but keep caressing Tirthamankali in the mood of love. “Male becomes peaceful after meeting a female,” said Sukhibhar Post Mahout Rajesh Singh. He was confident that the female would return to the post within a few days. He said the male will shed their violent temperament after indulging in love for a few days.
Rajensh took the post’s male elephant to the jungle for grazing after Dhrube took the female elephant. He said there is no need to fear with a male elephant indulgent with a female. “He has found what he was looking for so why would he bother us,” said Mahout Rajesh.
Has Dhurbe really mellowed out?
Now there are growing concerns among the locals whether Dhurbe will attack people life before. When a male elephant reaches a period of heightened sexual instinct because of sexual drive, certain hormones increase in a gland between the eye and ear. As the gland ruptures and the hormones reach the elephant’s mouth, it becomes aggressive and moves in search of mating partner. But if the elephant finds a partner for mating, it will gradually mellow out. However, the possibility can’t be ruled out that Dhurbe would become violent if it failed to find a partner. Madi-based politician Narad Mani Poudel said thtat the CNP officials should become serious to maintain the calmness of Dhurbe.
