Elephant menace: Villagers live under threat in Kodagu

The elephant menace has once again intensified in Kodagu district. There has been a rise in cases of elephants straying into villages and damaging crops.

The menace had declined after the natural calamity hit Kodagu last year. Now, once again, it has reached its peak making people wonder whether there has been a rise in the elephant population in the district.

In spite of Kodagu receiving pre-monsoon showers, the lakes, wells and water bodies have not been filled up with the required amount of water. Elephants are not getting enough food inside the forest. As a result, they are straying into villages in search of food.

The elephant menace has increased at Yadavanadu village in Somwarpet. The laying of trenches and solar fencing could not check the menace so far. The villagers have been demanding a permanent solution to check the menace.

The farmers from Yadavanadu have lost coffee, banana plantations following the elephant menace. If the authorities fail to check the problem, the villagers have warned of holding a Satyagraha. The elephant menace has increased in Madapura, Soorlabbi, Chattalli, Kodagarahalli, Shanthalli and Shanivarasanthe as well.

Elephants are camping at coffee estates in Kanooru, Ponnampete, Kumatoory, Beeruga, Kakooru in South Kodagu. Small farmers have stopped farming activities after being unable to bear the losses incurred by the menace. In spite of the Rapid Response Team carrying out a drive to chase the elephants back to the forest for the last one week, the elephants could not be chased back.

Speaking to DH, Raitha Sangha district president Chimmagada Ganesh said, “The elephants are camping at Kutta, Srimangala, Kaimane, K Badaga, Nalkeri, Kurchi, Nemmale, Manchalli areas. Farmers have lost crops worth lakh of rupees. The Delhi government had given a compensation of Rs 1 crore for the death of farmers in wild animal attack in addition to government employment for a family member of the deceased. Unfortunately, the farmers are neglected in Karnataka.”

He urged the government to capture the elephants and relocate them.

It is difficult for the farmers to survive in the district. The Forest Department officials have failed to check the menace. Only a meagre amount of compensation is paid for loss of lives in elephant attacks, he added.

Though the Forest Department had laid solar fences to check the menace, the elephants are not bothered by the fence. However, the hanging solar fence installed at Siddapura has been effective in checking the menace.

According to farmers, the elephants are not able to cross the trench. Hence, they have started crossing River Cauvery and Lakshmanatheertha to enter the villages. The problem will persist till the water level increases in the river.

Farmers have urged the Forest Department to continue to lay fence using railway tracks on the periphery of the forest. The lakes inside the forest should be rejuvenated to increase the water level and bamboo and jackfruit trees should be grown inside the forest.