Life tough for humans, tuskers at Andhra Pradesh's tri-state junction

Tirupati: Hordes of rampaging elephants are making lives of villagers, especially farmers, difficult at the tri-junction of three states – Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka – falling under the Koundinya Wildlife Sanctuary in forest ranges of Kuppam, Palamaner, Punganur and Chittoor west within AP.

Population of tuskers in these forest areas had been only eight in 2012. With stricter laws and habitat protection, their numbers have shot up to 90 now. However, though the number of wild animals has increased, human beings started encroaching and denuding forests, resulting in gradual loss of habitat for wildlife. Whenever pachyderms are finding it difficult to locate fodder and water in forests, they end up raiding human habitations bordering their habitats.

All three state governments are worried about rising incidents of such man-animal conflict. Though AP forest authorities have resorted to fencing and trenching close to 4,500 hectares in Palamaner range, jumbos are venturing into human habitations, raiding crops, and attacking farmers trying to shoo them away.

Speaking to Deccan Chronicle on condition of anonymity, a forester observed that the main threat for elephants is overgrazing by live-stock in neighbourhoods of forests which have been encroached. Availability of crops like sugarcane, sorghum and ragi on forest outskirts only turn out to be an incentive for tuskers.

According to information, since 2002, 42 people have been killed by wild elephants; 16 of the pachyderms have been electrocuted to death by electricity-charged power lines erected by farmers to protect their crops. In 2019–20, seven jumbos died of electrocution. During the period, at least six people have lost their lives and many injured by jumbos.

An official says animal-human conflict has turned for the worse as there is staff crunch within the forest department. Compounding the problem is the fact that majority of forest personnel are on verge of their retirement. It has thus become difficult for authorities to monitor movements of stray elephants from TN and Karnataka into AP.

A forest official said the department needs at least 12–15 trackers and watchers if they are to drive away a batch of stray elephants back into forests.

Elephant loss:

* About 16 elephants have got electrocuted to death since 2002 in villages due to electricity-charged fencing carried out by farmers. Eight of these have died between 2013 and 2018.

* Within 2019–20 seven jumbos have got electrocuted to death and one died of wounds in infighting.

Human loss:

* 42 people have been killed by jumbos between 1990 and 2002.

* Four human casualties have been reported from 2016 to 2019.

* More than six people have lost their lives and many injured due to man-animal conflict in 2019–20.