Once teetering on the brink of ecological collapse, the forests of Jhargram in South Bengal are now scripting a story of resilience and revival. After decades of rampant illegal logging, political instability, and systemic neglect, the region’s green cover—and the wildlife it shelters—is making a robust comeback.

According to the West Bengal Forest Department, the elephant population across four South Bengal districts—Jhargram, West Midnapore, Bankura, and Purulia—has grown from 194 in 2017 to 224 in 2025. Alongside the elephants, species such as Indian wolves, chitals, and various deer are reappearing in significant numbers, especially in the increasingly dense forests of Jhargram.

Once a crisis zone, now a growing canopy

The recovery, however, was far from instant. Back in the 1990s, a Forest Protection Committee had been formed to conserve the sal-dominated woodlands of Jhargram. But by 2009, widespread political unrest brought these efforts to a halt, opening the floodgates to unchecked deforestation. The number of sal trees plummeted to an alarming 50–100 per hectare, threatening the forest’s very survival.

Now, in a remarkable reversal, the region boasts over 400 sal trees per hectare, with the total sal population crossing 15 million, according to official estimates.

“We are not just planting trees, we are rebuilding an ecosystem,” said Umar Imam, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Jhargram. “By increasing food and water availability, we are making the forest a suitable habitat again.”
Building back biodiversity

The reforestation initiative has gone far beyond simply planting trees. In the Gidhani forest area, five new ponds have been dug to support wildlife. Fruit-bearing trees, bamboo groves, and native shrubs are being cultivated to restore ecological balance. As a result, regions like Nayagram, Belpahari, Bhulaveda, and Shilda are now seeing increased wildlife activity.

This positive trend has turned Jhargram’s 43,150-hectare forest, spread across 11 ranges—including Lodhashuli, Manikpara, Jamboni, Gopiballabhpur, and Hatibari—into a beacon of hope for conservationists.

However, the resurgence of elephants has also sparked concerns over human-wildlife conflict. Reports of crop damage and villagers’ encounters with elephants are emerging with greater frequency.

To address this, the forest department has deployed range-based elephant-driving teams and is holding awareness camps to teach safe coexistence strategies.
“The increase in elephants is both a sign of success and a call for caution,” said DFO Imam. “If managed carefully, both conservation and community safety can be achieved.”

Corridors and coexistence

Long-term solutions are also in the pipeline. Plans are underway to develop dedicated elephant corridors, and further enhance food and water sources deep inside the forest to reduce the incentive for animals to stray into human settlements.

As Jhargram’s forests slowly reclaim their lost richness, they stand today as a testament to what focused environmental restoration and community collaboration can achieve. From a landscape once marred by destruction, a new chapter of hope is being written—leaf by leaf, step by step.