Jumbo menace continues to worry Mudigere people

It appears there is no respite for the villagers of Jaavali Gram Panchayat limits from elephant menace. The constant raids by wild elephants on the crops for the last four days has unnerved farmers who are lamenting over the crop loss.

A herd of elephants have been attacking paddy fields, coffee, arecanut, and coconut plantations in Malemane, Megooru, Anganamakki, Doddinakoppa, Hulkihara and other areas in Jaavali.

A herd of three elephants , and a single elephant have been attacking the crops separately. The Jaavali GP is situated on the periphery of Saragodu Baalooru reserve forest. The elephants enter the forest during day time and become active at night. The elephants have been wreaking havoc in the fields. The elephants have already claimed two lives in the region. An elephant appeared on a road at Koove during the day time on Saturday and created fear in the minds of people.

Elephants straying into the villages have created an atmosphere of fear in Megooru, Hulkihara and Doddinakoppa. The labourers are scared to work at coffee plantations. The forest department officials have tried to chase the elephants back to forest using crackers. But in vain.

“An elephant has been moving constantly from Saaragodu to Guthu covering a distance of 80km There is a need to relocate the elephants,” said Karnataka Coffee Growers Federation president B S Jayaram Gowda.

“I have lost a 15-year-old-coffee plantation to the elephant attack. To replant and reap the harvest it will take minimum of four years,” farmer Sharath complained. “Farmers in the region have lost banana and paddy crops too. In stead of distributing compensation for loss of crop, government should relocate the elephant,” he urged.