Kendujhar: As people prepare to observe World Elephant Day Wednesday, elephants in the Kendujhar forest division are increasingly in need of protection and rehabilitation as their habitat continues to shrink. Kendujhar district once had vast stretches of dense forest where elephants could move safely and fi nd sufficient food. Large-scale afforestation efforts costing hundreds of crores of rupees have failed to fully compensate for the loss of natural forests, they said. With food sources declining and traditional elephant corridors blocked, herds increasingly enter human settlements. Environmentalist Bimbadhar Behera said protecting natural forests, studying elephant behaviour and restoring traditional corridors could help reduce human-elephant confl ict.