2 months ago
3
A herd of 13 chaotic elephants has been camping successful a vale on the Andhra Pradesh–Tamil Nadu borderline for respective weeks, causing harvest harm and keeping villagers successful parts of Chittoor territory connected edge.
The herd, primitively comprising 11 elephants from Karnataka forests, entered the Koundinya Wildlife Sanctuary loop adjacent Palamaner successful the archetypal week of January done the Chenji forests of the Gudiyattam scope successful Tamil Nadu. By the archetypal week of February, 2 calves were calved wrong the group, expanding the herd’s spot to 13. Excluding the newborn calves, the herd comprises 9 females and 2 males.
The elephants are presently stationed successful a tiny vale successful Gudipala mandal, 15 km from Chittoor, surrounded by forested hillocks betwixt Paradharami colony successful Tamil Nadu and the Chittapara wood bushed successful Chittoor district. The valley, which borders Tamil Nadu forests, has bully vegetation and a stream, providing a impermanent refuge and ample fodder for the animals.
Initially, wood officials expected the herd to determination people towards the Palamaner scope and yet instrumentality to Karnataka arsenic portion of its migratory movement. However, the elephants person remained successful the vale and person begun raiding adjacent cultivation fields.
To code the situation, the wood section deployed 4 trained elephants, known arsenic kumkis, led by the well-known kumki Jayanth from Kuppam. Around 40 wood unit travel the kumkis regular to thrust the chaotic herd towards the Palamaner wood range.
Officials accidental the herd has been unusually tactical successful its movements. While kumkis effort to propulsion them northwards, the elephants gaffe retired successful the other absorption to raid crops successful Panatur and Muttavallur villages successful the northbound and southbound respectively.
Crop losses implicit the past fortnight person been estimated astatine astir ₹10 lakh, with further harm inactive being assessed. Villagers besides study that the elephants often participate quality habitations soon aft dusk, knocking against compound gates and occasionally doors of houses earlier retreating to the vale by dawn.
Forest Range Officer M. Pattabhi said villagers were extending afloat cooperation, adjacent agreeing to night-time powerfulness shutdowns to forestall accidental electrocution of elephants moving done fields and agrarian roads. “Presence of a ample herd, peculiarly with 2 calves, makes the concern delicate and risky for villagers travelling on agrarian roads successful the wood fringe areas betwixt Chittoor and Vellore districts,” helium said.
