Parvathipuram Manyam Forest Department Issues Alert on Roaming Elephants
VISHAKHAPATNAM: The forest department of Parvathipuram Manyam district is on high alert to prevent man-animal conflict as a lone male elephant and two herds of elephants are moving in the forests of Kurupam Mandal.
The district forest officer G.A.P. Prasuna said the single elephant 'Hari’ was on the top of the Artham Hills, and the remaining seven elephants were in the Old Duggi submerged area of the Parvathipuram range. Another herd of four elephants is at Jarada village in the Kurupam range, she said.
On the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi, the forest department has increased the force to continuously until idol immersion. She issued some guidelines in this regard for the safety of everyone during the festival.
She asked puja revellers to maintain the volume of the loud speaker within the safe limits—less than 70 dB, and there should be a shut-down after 6 pm in Komarada mandal, especially in the villages of old Duggi, Kota Duggi, old Kalikota, new Kalitota, Garavalsa, Gangaravalasa, Sominaiduvalasa, Kumarigunta, and several other villages in the surroundings.
The DFO asked the villagers to inform the beat officer concerned regarding the date, time, and place at which idol immersion would be held and take prior information from the beat officer concerned regarding the location of the elephants.
She told them to avoid roaming on the roads during the night and early mornings. She advised them not to consume alcohol and then roam on the roads. Strict action will be taken on those who are found to be under the influence of alcohol and obstructing the monitoring activities of elephants, she added.
She advised them not to go near the wild elephants and offer any food, which is an offense under the Wildlife Conservation Act.
She said taking selfies and provoking elephants would be considered teasing wildlife, and strict action would be taken.
Those who are traveling on roads should obtain prior information about the elephants’ location. Elephant trackers and staff would be present to guide the travelers. However, the villagers have to abide by the directions given by them.
She told them to avoid immersing idols in the water bodies where the elephants are present.
