A herd of more than 10 wild elephants has intrude into several coffee plantations near Old Siddapur near Siddapur town in Kodagu on Thursday creating a scare among people and prompting the Forest Department officials to swing into action to drive the herd back to the forests.
The herd includes two calves, but the Forest Department officials did not take any chance to scare them away till 5 p.m. today as many plantation workers were involved in coffee picking in and around the area, Assistant Conservator of Forests, Alexander told The Hindu .
Elephants have destroyed several coffee plants, banana plants in the plantations belonging to Chowrira Ramu, Anil Shetty, and Pattada Ashok, Mr. Alexander said.
The Siddapur PU College was located close by and the students were let off earlier in the afternoon following appeals made by forest officials.
“We have disturbed the herd but would have to wait for tomorrow to see whether they have left,” Mr. Alexander said.
The presence of the herd triggered fear among the plantation workers and students alike.
