Wild animals destroy plantations in Kodagu villages

Madikeri: Farmers in Abhyathmangala and Ontiangadi villages near Siddapur are in distress over the growing menace of elephants and bisons.
The wild animals are entering paddy fields and arecanut and coffee plantations and destroying the crops. Over 30 elephants have camped in Neelagiri estate. They are barging into surrounding fields and estates and trampling standing crops.There are three bisons freely roaming in the area.
The animals have damaged more than 60 arecanut trees in the estate of Anchemne Sudhakar at Abyatmangala village. Coffee plants have been ruined. Paddy fields were damaged..The grower is worried about his future.
Forest officers who visited the spot expressed their helplessness. A grower has installed a solar fence around his estate in Chettimoole village. The fencing is obstructing the chasing operation planned by the forest department. “We have been requesting the grower to temporarily remove the fencing to enable the chasing operation to save all other growers who are badly affected. However, he is not responding,.” they said.