Elephant Herd in Sight; Tension in Villages
The elephants were sighted in nearby forest areas over the past two days
Visakhapatnam: A presence of a herd of wild elephants in the vicinity has triggered concern among residents of Marcondaputti village in Makkuva mandal of Parvathipuram Manyam district.
The elephants were sighted in nearby forest areas over the past two days.
When heard last, the eight-member herd, including five calves, was moving through the forest tracts close to Marcondaputti and its neighbouring habitations. Foresters said the herd has been damaging oil palm plantations while searching for food and water.
“The elephants have not entered any village, but their movements are being closely monitored,” a forest official stated.
The elephants are believed to have migrated from the Komarada region and entered the area for the first time. Many villagers made attempts to view the animals from close range.
Foresters advised the residents to maintain a safe distance and avoid provoking the elephants, as it could lead to an aggressive response and a risk to human life.
The foresters started guiding the herd towards interior forest areas. It was noted that the elephants generally remained inactive during the day and moved at night in search of food and water.
Meanwhile, the region’s farmers have urged the authorities to expedite completion of the proposed 400-acre elephant shelter zone at Guchimi. They have also pleaded for deployment of trained Kumki elephants to help drive the herd deeper into reserve forests.
