Wild elephants stray onto fringes of Manyam forest

Visakhapatnam: Seven wild elephants have strayed onto fringes of forests around Raminaiduvalasa village near Pedhamerangi junction in Parvathipuram Manyam district. Forest staff are monitoring their movement.

They have issued a cautionary advice to surrounding villages of Kanapadoravalasa, Peddavalasa, Subhadramvalasa, Seemanaiduvalasa, Batlabadhra, Nimalapadu, Venkatarajapuram, Yerukulapeta and Gowrimpeta regarding these elephants.

An elephant whom locals have named Hari in Komarada mandal is on the top of a hill in Nadimivalasa. The elephant is said to be coming down the hill in the night and going atop the hill early in the morning.

Villagers of Regulapadu, Peddakerjila, Chinnakerjila, Bujigavalasa, Nadimivalasametta, Kotipam, Janjavathi, Kumarigunta and Artham have been advised to be cautious of Hari and other strays in the area.

District forest officer G.A.P. Prasuna said villagers must be careful particularly in late evening and early mornings. She asked villagers to keep in touch with beat officers of their area.

Regarding loss of crops and property due to stray elephants, she said forest department is empathetic and will organise a meeting in this regard. The district forest officer said villagers have to report their losses to their tahsildar. Villagers can them claim their compensation from the concerned range offices