Jumbos damage barricade, destroy maize crop

Much to the disappointment of Forest Department and farmers – who had hoped that the elephant-proof barricade would protect them from wild elephants – a herd of pachyderms entered the fields after damaging the barricades near Hunsur on Monday.

A herd of eight elephants strayed into the villages from Nagarahole National Park after damaging the barricade, creating jitters among the villagers and feasted on maize crop grown on 50 acres of land.

The herd had crossed over the barricades erected with used railway tracks and destroyed the crops grown by the tribals.

The Forest Department personnel, who rushed to the spot, were successful in driving away six elephants into the forest. But two tuskers are yet to be chased away.

While the works on erecting elephant-proof barricade is under progress, the wild elephant straying out of the forest has turned into a nightmare for the villagers, who were hoping that the barricades would protect their lives and property.