Tamil Nadu   

Wild elephants destroy crops in Uthanapalli

— PHOTO: N. BASHKARAN

Strayed: Wild elephants on the rampage at Gechur near Shoolagiri on Wednesday.

Hosur: A total of 15 elephants, including four calves, strayed from Anchetti forest into Uthanapalli on Wednesday.

The elephants had strayed into the fields during night in search of food and water and started to raid the crops.

The elephants also attacked Babu Singh (50), Muniraj (45) and Basappa (70), who were harvesting their crops.

Basappa sustained serious injuries and died on the spot. Muniraj and Babu Singh were admitted to the Hosur Government Hospital.

According to forest sources, chasing the elephants remained a tough job as the pachyderms refused to leave ever since it had strayed into the fields. In another instance, forest officials chased 12 elephants that had strayed into human habitations near Rayakottai.

In the past one-month alone, wild elephants have raided sugarcane, banana, raagi, pulses and maize crops in Thally, Jawalagiri, Rayakottai, Neralatti, Agalakottai and Kelamangalam in the Denkanikottai and Anchetti forest ranges. Concerned over the damage caused by the elephants to crops, farmers have blamed the Forest Department for failing to take any action in chasing the elephants back into the forest.

On information, the Conservator of Forests, Dharmapuri circle, Mani, deputed a team of forest officials to chase the elephants back into the forests.

The expansion of agricultural areas near the forests is said to be the main reason behind the man-animal conflicts.

This has resulted in shrinking of the elephants’ migratory path. Straying of wild elephants into agricultural lands has now become a regular feature due to the harvest season, say sources.

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