Hundreds of farmers from the district of Coimbatore today gathered at the District Forest Office seeking remedy for the prolonged man-animal conflict issue. The farmers alleged the forest department officials for not initiating action against the complaints raised by the farmers to protect their farmlands from wild animal trespassing.
Animals, especially elephants rampaging farmlands (patta lands) has become a regular phenomenon and that the forest department seems to pay no heed to attend to the issues, they alleged.
'Yesterday, a male calf was tranquilised at the Thadagam area and shifted to Sadivayal camp for treatment. In the same Thadagam area, near Varapalayam Village yet another 6-year-old elephant has become a permanent threat to the farmers, as the elephant never leaves the farmlands. Houses, shelters, crops are being destroyed by the elephant on a daily basis, even there are times when it has chased a few senior citizens of the same area.
Several complaints have been raised by the farmers of that area to the forest department to capture the elephant and leave it inside the forest but till date, the forest department has not devised any action plan' the farmers said.
'Already the failure of monsoons have struck us big time adding to that such frequent man-animal conflicts and lack of support from the forest department has made our livelihood questionable' they said.
As the protest intensified, Police arrived at the spot to pacify the farmers to clear off the protest. But the farmers were determined to continue their protests until a solution is agreed upon. At last, they cleared the protest after the Conservator of the forest gave in writing to initiate immediate action on the issue.
Animals, especially elephants rampaging farmlands (patta lands) has become a regular phenomenon and that the forest department seems to pay no heed to attend to the issues, they alleged.
'Yesterday, a male calf was tranquilised at the Thadagam area and shifted to Sadivayal camp for treatment. In the same Thadagam area, near Varapalayam Village yet another 6-year-old elephant has become a permanent threat to the farmers, as the elephant never leaves the farmlands. Houses, shelters, crops are being destroyed by the elephant on a daily basis, even there are times when it has chased a few senior citizens of the same area.
Several complaints have been raised by the farmers of that area to the forest department to capture the elephant and leave it inside the forest but till date, the forest department has not devised any action plan' the farmers said.
'Already the failure of monsoons have struck us big time adding to that such frequent man-animal conflicts and lack of support from the forest department has made our livelihood questionable' they said.
As the protest intensified, Police arrived at the spot to pacify the farmers to clear off the protest. But the farmers were determined to continue their protests until a solution is agreed upon. At last, they cleared the protest after the Conservator of the forest gave in writing to initiate immediate action on the issue.