Panic grips farmers after elephants kill watchman (State of Andhra Pradesh, India)
Panic grips farmers after elephants kill watchman (State of Andhra Pradesh,
India)
The Hindu
May 10, 2021
In yet another incident of the elephants of the Bachelors’ Group attacking
humans, a 75-year-old watchman at a mango orchard was killed when he
reportedly tried to drive two elephants away from the field at Nettam
village in Puttur mandal on Sunday.
This is the third incident and first casualty in the eastern mandals in the
last four months after a three-member Bachelors’ Group of elephants had
crossed into Chittoor district from Vellore in Tamil Nadu in the first week
of January. The trio has since been occasionally raiding the crops in the
plain areas of Nagari, Puttur, Narayanavanam and Karveti Nagaram mandals
and has taken shelter behind hillocks and sparse jungles.
At present, one of the three elephants has got separated from the group,
and is currently on the prowl at Kailasanatha Kona tourist spot at the foot
of Nagari hills. The other two elephants are on the move criss-crossing the
Karveti Nagaram and Puttur forest ranges.
Divisional Forest Officer (Chittoor wildlife East) G.G. Narentheran told
The Hindu that the elderly man, identified as Tupakula Chinnabba of
Kalyanapuram locality in Puttur municipality, was on the night vigil when
he heard the barking of dogs. Following the sound, he reached the spot to
find two elephants.
When Chinnabba reportedly tried to scare them away, without raising an
alarm to alert others in the neighbouring orchards, he was pushed to the
ground by one of the elephants, leading to his death.
Action Plan
A few weeks ago, forest officials had launched an operation with two kumkis
(trained elephants) intending to drive the trio into the forests. An action
plan was also chalked out with an outlay of ₹10 lakh to tackle the issue.
However, as the movement of wild elephants in Palamaner and Kuppam ranges
grew, the kumkis were temporarily withdrawn from the drive in the plain
areas of the eastern mandals.
The forest officials are also undertaking frequent drives to prevent the
elephants from entering into human habitations, fields and from crossing
the national highway towards Chennai via Nagari and Nagalapuram.
Forest officials have urged the farmers not to venture alone at nights and
avoid engaging elderly people on night duties.