The constant raids by wild elephants in the fields of tribal hamlets Narayanapuram Thanda and Naniyala during the last one month has unnerved the farmers who are lamenting that standing crops raised in spite of drought-like conditions in the area were trampled and this had a telling effect on their livelihood and economy.
About 33 wild elephants, in three herds moving in Koundinya sanctuary, with migratory routes crossing into Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, have been wreaking havoc in the fields of Ramakuppam mandal since October last year, causing crop losses to the tune of nearly Rs. 1 crore.
Last week, a 100-member forest squad drove away the herds from Ramakuppam, but they returned after a couple of days. The electrocution of a female a few days ago in the fields only worsened the situation, as the herd members lingered in the area since then. Generally, the migratory season of the wild elephants at the tri-state junction of A.P. Kuppam flanked by Karnataka and Tamil Nadu at Kuppam starts in November and comes to close in early January. The pachyderms lingered in the surroundings till March in 2014 and this year, the herds have settled in a single mandal for several months, not showing signs of retreating.
The forest officials said that once the trench works were complete, the elephants’ menace would have a permanent solution in the vulnerable villages. With the recent kunkies (trained elephants) operation failing to give results to drive away the animals, the villagers sought the officials to deploy a well-trained elephant squad in the area.
As many as 33
wild elephants cause crop losses to the tune of nearly
Rs. 1 crore in
Ramakuppam mandal
