Daijiworld Media Network – Sullia/Beltangady (MS)

Sullia/Beltangady, Sep 11: Wild elephant menace continued at Mandekolu village on the border of Karnataka.

More than 20 coconut plants belonging to Hameed, a resident of Marga, were destroyed by the herd on the Saturday night. It also destroyed plantain, arecanut trees of many agriculturists of Devaragunda area.

Though the elephants are driven into the forest by the forest personnel during the night time, they cross the rivulet again in the evening. Solar fencing, huge ditch to prevent the entry of elephants is unable to prevent the pachyderms from entering the farmlands.

In Devaragunda area boxes filled with honey bees were kept in line and it was successful as the wild elephants did not take that route. However, now from two days, they have found alternative route and are destroying crops.

Arecanut and coconut trees were uprooted by wild elephants on Friday and Saturday night at Nelligudde Marangayi under Charmadi gram panchayat limits.

The elephants which entered the farm land of Leelavati Lokaiah Gowda, late night on Friday, destroyed more than 125 arecanut trees. Gowda planted more than 240 arecanut trees three years ago and now the elephants have destroyed more than half of the trees. The forest department officials visited the site and have asked Gowda to apply for compensation.

Agriculturists of Shibaje area are concerned as the wild elephant menace is continuing unabated. Two weeks ago, a wild elephant was found on the road by a newspaper delivery boy.