Elephant Herd Rampages Through Banana Plantations, Leaves Farmers in Distress in AP
TIRUPATI: A herd of wild elephants went on a rampage in the agricultural fields of Kadatatlapalle of Baireddypalle mandal in Chittoor district during Tuesday night. The jumbos targeted a three-acre banana plantation owned by Varalakshmi, a woman farmer practicing natural farming methods. This happened just two-three days before the scheduled harvest.
Narrating her ordeal, Varalakshmi said, “I invested so much effort into cultivating the bananas. They were almost ready for harvest and now everything is gone. It’s heartbreaking to see the destruction caused by the elephants.” She estimated the losses to be around '3 lakh.
Varalakshmi has appealed to the government for assistance.
The intrusion of elephants into farmlands and human habitats is frequent in Chittoor district. The elephants often venture out of forests in search of food and water, causing extensive damage to standing crops and properties.
Farmers of the forested villages under Palamaner, Kuppam, Punganur ranges and other mandals are worried by the frequent elephant sightings near agricultural fields and villages over the past fortnight.
Herds were also spotted raiding crops in Pakala and Ramakuppam mandals earlier this week and two weeks back.
Forest officials called it a seasonal phenomenon between October and February, when crops get ready for harvest. The man-animal conflict has escalated over the years as elephants search for food outside their fast-depleting forest habitats.
The forest authorities stated that forest guards have been positioned at Tamil Nadu and Karnataka borders in an attempt to prevent elephants from entering Chittoor district. Additionally, field staff has been instructed to carry out inspections of areas that are vulnerable to crop damage from elephants.
"Our top priority is to guide the elephants back into their natural habitats and keep them away from farmlands and human settlements. We have speeded up the process of providing compensation to farmers. We are also taking a multifaceted approach involving barriers, patrols, and community awareness programs," explained a forest officer.
