It appears there is no respite for forest officials and villagers of Kuppam constituency from elephant menace. Not even a week has passed after the villagers heaved a sigh of relief from the destruction activities by pachyderms, a tusker has ventured into the neighbouring Palamaner constituency and damaged standing crops in half a dozen villages in the last few days.
Divisional Forest Officer (Chittoor West), T. Chakrapani, said that they had the record about the movement of a lone elephant in Koundinya sanctuary between Bangarupalem and Palamaner.
“But, the animal, a male according to our watchers’ observation, has not intruded into agriculture fields so far. It has confined itself to the inner core of the sanctuary. Now, we suspect that the pachyderm might have ventured into some villages in the vicinity. We will study the episode and take steps to prevent the recurring raids on crop fields by pachyderms,” he said.
Meanwhile, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of forests (Addl. PCCF) Ramesh Kalaghatgi, accompanied by Mr. Chakrapani and Squad DFO Nagarujuna Reddy made a whirlwind tour of the Koundinya wildlife sanctuary and inspected the ongoing works of trenches and solar fencing meant for preventing the elephants from entering human habitations and crop fields. The officials also interacted with the farmers who poured out their woes over tusker menace and crop losses.
Ongoing works of trenches and solar fencing meant for preventing elephants from entering human habitations is reviewed