Elephant herd spreads fear among K’giri villagers (Krishnagiri) Times of India November 28, 2024 With a herd of more than 40 wild elephants roaming around along the forest fringes, forest officials attached to Hosur division on Wednesday advised the villagers near the Sanamavu reserve forest to remain vigilant and stay indoors at nighttime to avoid man-elephant conflict and subsequent casualties. According to an official source, a herd of more than 200 elephants migrating from Karnataka had split into smaller herds and been roaming around various forest areas in the Krishnagiri district. He said the forest field staff had been closely monitoring the movement of the elephant herds and taking steps to prevent them from straying into human habitats. Wildlife warden S Karthikeyani informed the reporters that they had spotted a herd of 40 elephants, including calves, making their way to Sanamavu reserve forest. "So, we have advised the villagers in the area to be cautious." Another official said it was normal for wild elephants to migrate to the reserve forests in Tamil Nadu from Karnataka in November and December to feed on ragi crops. Farmers cultivating ragi, sugarcane and paddy near the Sanamavu reserve forest said they were incurring huge losses every year because of wild elephant raids. "We are also not adequately compensated for our loses by the state govt," said P Muniappaa, a farmer from Sanamavu hamlet. The farmers urged the state govt and the forest department to take measures to prevent elephants from raiding standing crops and properly assess the damages caused by elephants for fair compensation. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/coimbatore/wild-elephant-herd-instills-fear-in-krishnagiri-villagers-urgent-pleas-for-safety-and-compensation/articleshow/115744239.cms