Over one lakh people living in 100 villages of Srikakulam district have sought permanent solution to the menace of elephants. Elephants have been causing huge damage to their properties apart from turning a big threat to human lives. The villagers are up in arms against the Forest Department saying that it is unable to ensure immediate and sufficient compensation for the damage of crops and properties. The Revenue Department is ignoring the peoples’ request for the early assessment of the damage.
“The Forest Department should find out a permanent solution in the interest of the people as well as animals. It is unfair to drag the issue for so many years,” said B. Demudu, a resident of Hiramandalam.
Srikakulam district administration is unable to find out a permanent solution over relocation of wild elephants spread over 100 villages of Palakonda and Sithampet forest areas. It has planned to send them to a zoological park but the proposal has not been accepted by the Union government. Ten elephants entered Srikakulam District from Odisha Lakheri forest area almost 10 years ago and five of them got killed in various incidents. Currently, four elephants are damaging crops and houses.
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The Forest Department says influx of humans and conversion of forest area into residential areas had forced the elephants to wander in several villages. The district administration is unable to send them back to forest area in Odisha as geographical boundaries are not applicable for the animals, according to the court’s ruling.
The department adopted other measures such as drum beating, firing crackers and burning of chilly power in fringe areas to keep elephants away from crops.
Man-animal conflict
Ten elephants entered Srikakulam from Odisha 10 years ago
Five elephants killed in various incidents
Four elephants damage crops, houses