Elephants create panic in Chikkamagaluru villages

CHIKKAMAGALURU: Tension prevailed in Chikkamagaluru’s Mudigere taluk after a herd of elephants entered agricultural fields in several villages and destroyed the crops.
Three elephants entered Gutti, Hesagodu, Kotrakere, Kogile, Binnadi, Kasgebailu, Chandrapura and Tripura villages in Mudigere during the wee hours of Tuesday. According to villagers, the herd reached the taluk last week, but the forest officials had no clue about their movement.
The elephants destroyed a company-owned coffee plantation and areca crops of Naveen, Ravish, Subraya Gowda, Laxman Gowda, Byregowda, Krishnegowda and Raghuram.Villagers also informed that the elephants uprooted trees and destroyed black pepper crops.
The elephants created havoc at G Hosahalli on Tuesday afternoon. The staff, with the support of villagers, burst crackers and drove the elephant herd back into Beluru Reserve Forest. The forest department staff will camp at G Hosahalli to monitor their movement.
Speaking to reporters, assistant conservator of forest (ACF) Rajesh Naik said he is yet to receive information on the extend of crop loss.
“The department has failed to find a permanent solution to elephant menace in the region. Farmers are not getting suitable compensation for crop loss by elephants,” said Ravish, a village.
World Elephant Day to be celebrated today at Bannerghatta
Bannerghatta Biological Park (BBP) is celebrating World Elephant Day on Thursday. BBP executive director Vanashree Vipin Singh said that as part of the celebrations, BBP is introducing a new programme to involve citizens and wildlife enthusiasts, to provide their services to the zoo, in the form of harvesting fodder through ‘Mrugalayakke Shramadhana’. The harvested fodder will be fed to the elephants by the mahouts.
Interested people can enrol in pairs for the activity, which will be conducted from 12.30 pm to 2 pm on Thursday. This programme will be conducted on a weekly basis, and prior to enrolment, it is required to fill a Google form on the website www.bannerghattabiologicalpark.com. A maximum 20 people can participate.