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Visakhapatnam: A herd of wild elephants wreaked havoc at Gadavavalsa village in Parvathipuram Manyam district on Saturday at 4 a.m., damaging an auto-rickshaw after its driver and passengers had fled to safety.
Responding to the attack, forest officials promptly issued alerts in nearby villages, asking residents to be wary of the danger posed by the elephants. Several villagers heading to work reported confrontations with the herd, though no one has been injured.
District Forest Officer (DFO) G.A.P. Prasuna said, "We have taken necessary precautions to meet the ongoing challenges due to the movement of elephants in Parvathipuram Manyam. We cannot completely eliminate the presence of elephants in the region. We thus alert residents to take extra care when traveling through affected areas.”
The DFO said over the past two-and-a-half years, elephants have been increasingly venturing into habitations, prompting the forest department to deploy staff for monitoring their movements and issuing alerts.
However, Prasuna said despite repeated warnings about the risks associated with approaching these wild animals, some villagers approach the elephants, viewing them as manifestations of Lord Ganesha. This leads to risks, complicating efforts of the forest department to ensure public safety.
The urgency of these measures is underscored by the recent tragic incident, where a 74-year-old farmer Devabattula Yacoob, tending to his paddy field in Peda Bondapalli village, was trampled to death by a wild elephant. Yacoob became the 12th victim of human-elephant conflict in Parvathipuram Manyam over the past decade.
In light of these developments, the DFO said they could consider enforcing Section 144 of Cr. P. C. to keep people away from the elephants due to heightened risk.
Responding to the attack, forest officials promptly issued alerts in nearby villages, asking residents to be wary of the danger posed by the elephants. Several villagers heading to work reported confrontations with the herd, though no one has been injured.
District Forest Officer (DFO) G.A.P. Prasuna said, "We have taken necessary precautions to meet the ongoing challenges due to the movement of elephants in Parvathipuram Manyam. We cannot completely eliminate the presence of elephants in the region. We thus alert residents to take extra care when traveling through affected areas.”
The DFO said over the past two-and-a-half years, elephants have been increasingly venturing into habitations, prompting the forest department to deploy staff for monitoring their movements and issuing alerts.
However, Prasuna said despite repeated warnings about the risks associated with approaching these wild animals, some villagers approach the elephants, viewing them as manifestations of Lord Ganesha. This leads to risks, complicating efforts of the forest department to ensure public safety.
The urgency of these measures is underscored by the recent tragic incident, where a 74-year-old farmer Devabattula Yacoob, tending to his paddy field in Peda Bondapalli village, was trampled to death by a wild elephant. Yacoob became the 12th victim of human-elephant conflict in Parvathipuram Manyam over the past decade.
In light of these developments, the DFO said they could consider enforcing Section 144 of Cr. P. C. to keep people away from the elephants due to heightened risk.
( Source : Deccan Chronicle )
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