Wild elephant menace is haunting Bidiruthala near Charmadi Ghat in Mudigere taluk for the last few days. The menace is increasing day-by-day.

 A herd of elephants have damaged paddy and coffee in Banakal and Baloor hobli on Tuesday night. 

The elephants return to reserve forest in Charmadi Ghat area  in the day time and returns to Madhugundi and Bidaruthala during night. There are two calves in the herd, said Sathish who has clicked a photograph of the elephants.  The elephants have damaged crops in Kogile, Devaramane and Binnadi region. The elephants have been moving freely in Tripura gram panchayat, Kotrakere, Jaragal, Guthi region in Banakal hobli for the last one and half months. 

“The elephants have been camping in Bidiruthala for the last four to five days. However, the officials have not taken any measures to chase the elephants. The elephants come near the door step during the night. The forest department officials have not even given crackers for the villagers to burst to chase the elephants,” said the residents. 

The villagers said that elephants visit the hobli even after chasing them to the forest. Hence, the forest department should initiate measures to relocate elephants. 

ACF Mohammed Khan said that he had received complaint on the elephant menace in Kogile village. Soon after receiving the complaint, the staff were sent to the village. Measures have been taken to chase elephants. 

“As the elephants do not move away from Baloor reserve forest during day time, we could not chase them away. The public need not worry over elephant menace as the department has already deployed staff to chase the elephants back to forest.”