Daijiworld Media Network - Sullia

Sullia, Aug 16: A herd of five elephants barged into a plantation at Bhasmadka, located around one kilometre from Sullia town, sending the locals and the forest officers into a tizzy.

The elephant menace has been troubling agriculturists in Mandekolu, Aletti, Ajjavar, Kolchar, Markanje and other places from the past one month.

On Friday August 14, a baby elephant along with four
adult tuskers had strayed into Aletti Narkodu area and were chased away into the forest by the locals.

It is surmised that the same herd of elephants lost its way and instead of entering the forest, came to Bhasmadka plantation on Saturday.

The locals tried to scare away the herd by bursting crackers, beating drums and creating smoke, but in vain. The elephants remained in the plantation till evening.

Over 25 forest officers including Sullia assistant conservators of forests (ACF) Ganapati, Sullia ranger Subbayya Naik and others together with Sullia police tried to chase away the herd. Subbayya Naik expressed hopes that the herd would move into the forest by itself during the night.

Sullia town panchayat president N A Ramachandra and vice-president Meenakshi visited the area.

As the news spread, scores of curious locals began making their way to the plantation to catch a glimpse of the elephants. However, fearing that the presence of a large crowd would send the elephants into a rampage, the police stopped the people from proceeding at Kurunjibagh junction.

Locals said that such straying of elephant herds was rare in Sullia and expressed suspicions that the herd might have come to feast on banana plantations in Kurunjigudde area and lost their way.