Dharmapuri forest staff await nod from Chennai to capture two elephants
The New Indian Express
January 28, 2023
Forest officials are waiting permission from higher authorities in Chennai
to tranquilise and capture two elephants that have been destroying crops in
parts of Palacode, Marandahali and Papparapatti in the last three months.
During the grievance day meeting held on Friday, farmers from Sommanahalli
requested the District Collector K Santhi to persuade the forest department
to relocate two wild elephants which had been rampaging across the farm
lands in the area.
President of the Tamilaga Vivasayigal Sangam, SA Chinnasamy said, “For the
past three months two elephants have been destroying crops in parts of
Palacode, Maranadahalli and Papparapatti. The compensation offered by the
department is insufficient. , if the farmer could complete the harvest,
they would receive more than that. Instead of keeping elephants away,
forest staff is merely watching the elephants eat the crops, he said.
Further, farmers levelled charges that forest staff do not stay at night
and offer protection to the residents of these villages, they said. Forest
staff stated that over 575 hectares of crop loss have been provided to
farmers across the district by the department in the past year. We have
also requested the Wildlife Warden to issue permission to relocate the
elephants. We are yet to receive any order, they said.
Forest ranger Nataraj said, “At present, there are two elephants in the
Palacode range, a 20-year-old makhana and a 22-year-old male elephant. For
the past two months, we have been trying to chase the makhna away into the
forest. Despite fireworks and other measures, the makhna refuses to budge.
Any other efforts would only provoke the elephant and could lead to
injuries or loss of life. We have requested permission from the Chief
Wildlife Warden in Chennai to relocate the elephant using tranquillizers.
We are expecting a reply soon.”
https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2023/jan/28/dharmapuri-forest-staff-await-nod-from-chennai-to-capture-two-elephants-2541978.html
Dharmapuri forest staff await nod from Chennai to capture two elephants
The New Indian Express
January 28, 2023
Forest officials are waiting permission from higher authorities in Chennai
to tranquilise and capture two elephants that have been destroying crops in
parts of Palacode, Marandahali and Papparapatti in the last three months.
During the grievance day meeting held on Friday, farmers from Sommanahalli
requested the District Collector K Santhi to persuade the forest department
to relocate two wild elephants which had been rampaging across the farm
lands in the area.
President of the Tamilaga Vivasayigal Sangam, SA Chinnasamy said, “For the
past three months two elephants have been destroying crops in parts of
Palacode, Maranadahalli and Papparapatti. The compensation offered by the
department is insufficient. , if the farmer could complete the harvest,
they would receive more than that. Instead of keeping elephants away,
forest staff is merely watching the elephants eat the crops, he said.
Further, farmers levelled charges that forest staff do not stay at night
and offer protection to the residents of these villages, they said. Forest
staff stated that over 575 hectares of crop loss have been provided to
farmers across the district by the department in the past year. We have
also requested the Wildlife Warden to issue permission to relocate the
elephants. We are yet to receive any order, they said.
Forest ranger Nataraj said, “At present, there are two elephants in the
Palacode range, a 20-year-old makhana and a 22-year-old male elephant. For
the past two months, we have been trying to chase the makhna away into the
forest. Despite fireworks and other measures, the makhna refuses to budge.
Any other efforts would only provoke the elephant and could lead to
injuries or loss of life. We have requested permission from the Chief
Wildlife Warden in Chennai to relocate the elephant using tranquillizers.
We are expecting a reply soon.”
https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2023/jan/28/dharmapuri-forest-staff-await-nod-from-chennai-to-capture-two-elephants-2541978.html
