Elephant herd destroys banana crops

Near Nellimalai hills in Mettuppalayam

A herd of wild elephants that strayed into farms near Badrakaliamman Temple near Mettuppalayam on Wednesday night destroyed hundreds of banana and coconut crops. Photo: Special Arrangement

A herd of five to six wild elephants that strayed into farms near Nellimalai hills in Badrakaliamman Temple area in Mettuppalayam damaged banana and coconut crops. A herd of ten elephants has remained in Nellimalai hills forest area for nearly a week and was straying into farms at night and raiding crops.

On Wednesday, five to six elephants from the herd were seen moving towards the farms of Dhanam, Shanthakumar and Kulandaivel, where they destroyed coconut and banana crops.

Farmers said that in the last five to six days alone, there had been damage to nearly 50 coconut trees and nearly 3,000 banana crops.

Squad mobilised

Forest officials have mobilised anti-depredation squad and anti-poaching watchers to prevent the herd from further straying into farms.