Amidst the demand from farmers for translocation of wild elephants which are entering villages in Thadagam valley, four elephants created panic at Varapalayam in the early hours of Thursday.
A three-member herd and a lone elephant entered Varapalayam and damaged a house and crops.
According to sources from Varapalayam, Chinna Thambi, one of the two tuskers the farmers wanted to be translocated from the valley, was part of the three-member herd which entered the village.
“The elephants damaged the house of Mohana, a retired teacher, around 3 a.m. The elephants also damaged banana trees belonging to the woman,” said a farmer from Varapalayam.
The movement of wild elephants were reported near Ponnuthu Amman Temple where the Forest Department camped its elephants earlier this month.
Crops
The elephants also raided crops belonging to several farmers in the village and damaged a bore well which a farmer has been using for irrigation.
Representatives of Tamil Nadu Vivasaigal Sangam (non political) said that they were gearing up for a mass protest at the office of the Chief Wildlife Warden in Chennai on December 17 demanding the translocation of wild elephants.
“As on Thursday, around 500 farmers have informed us that they will take part in the protest. More farmers will join in the coming days,” said a representative of the association.
