Tirupati: Residents of Naniyala and Naniyathanda villages in Ramakuppam mandal of Chittoor district are living in fear as a pair of elephants have been wreaking havoc on crops, sparking concerns that they may soon venture into the villages. The elephants have been damaging fields at night, leaving farmers anxious about potential threats to both lives and livelihood.
The ordeal began two days ago when the elephants raided the paddy crops of Babu and Chandra Mohan, as well as Murugappa’s tomato fields on Thursday night. The rampage continued on Friday midnight, causing significant losses to the local farmers. The elephants returned for a second night at around 7:30 pm on Saturday.
Local farmers, alarmed by the repeated attacks, reported the incidents to forest officials. The forest authorities mobilised a team comprising officials, staff, and elephant trackers to mitigate the escalating human-elephant conflict. On Saturday night, the team guided the tuskers back into the forest, preventing further damage.
However, the residents are growing increasingly worried about the prospect of the elephants re-entering their villages. Expressing their concerns, the villagers are now urging forest officials to implement stringent measures to safeguard both their crops and lives.
The repeated intrusion of elephants into agricultural lands has not only resulted in financial losses for farmers but has also raised the spectre of potential harm to human life. “We are living in constant fear as the elephants continue to venture out of the forest and damage our crops. If this persists, it won't be long before they enter our villages, posing a threat to our safety,” said a villager.
Forest officials are urged to take immediate action to address the escalating conflict. Villagers are calling for measures such as increased surveillance, installation of barriers, and the deployment of trained personnel to prevent further encroachment by the elephants into their agricultural lands.
