Coimbatore, Dec. 22
As observed by experts recently that wild elephants are venturing far away from Reserve forests deep into patta lands, a tusker from the Boluvampati reserve strayed more than five kms outside today, and damaged a house at Thondamuthur here.
The incident came to light when Selvaraj from Malligainagar was woken up by some commotion outside his house in the early hours today. Hearing the noise, he had gone out with a stick thinking that it was wild boars that were near his farm. “Usually boars come here during the night and I chase them away with a stick,” he said.
Much to his shock, Selvaraj saw a huge tusker breaking open the roof. He immediately shouted out for help. Even after his neighbours made a lot of noise, the animal refused to move out and was calmly feeding from the rice sack that was stocked inside his house.
Forest personnel were also alerted immediately and they guided the animal away using crackers. It was later guided back into the Reserve near Thondamuthur, and Selvaraj sought compensation from the department.
The incident, despite not causing much damage to property or human life, raised lot of concern over wild elephants straying long distances outside Reserve forests.
Though the average distance of elephants straying outside Reserve has only been less than two km so far, according to various research articles, the average distance had increased upto five km due to various reasons.
In 2016, a tusker from Madukkarai had strayed almost 12 kms outside. Increasing incidents as these are not only giving the Forest department a tough time, but are also creating a concern amongst people about the increasing Human Elephant Conflict.
As observed by experts recently that wild elephants are venturing far away from Reserve forests deep into patta lands, a tusker from the Boluvampati reserve strayed more than five kms outside today, and damaged a house at Thondamuthur here.
The incident came to light when Selvaraj from Malligainagar was woken up by some commotion outside his house in the early hours today. Hearing the noise, he had gone out with a stick thinking that it was wild boars that were near his farm. “Usually boars come here during the night and I chase them away with a stick,” he said.
Much to his shock, Selvaraj saw a huge tusker breaking open the roof. He immediately shouted out for help. Even after his neighbours made a lot of noise, the animal refused to move out and was calmly feeding from the rice sack that was stocked inside his house.
Forest personnel were also alerted immediately and they guided the animal away using crackers. It was later guided back into the Reserve near Thondamuthur, and Selvaraj sought compensation from the department.
The incident, despite not causing much damage to property or human life, raised lot of concern over wild elephants straying long distances outside Reserve forests.
Though the average distance of elephants straying outside Reserve has only been less than two km so far, according to various research articles, the average distance had increased upto five km due to various reasons.
In 2016, a tusker from Madukkarai had strayed almost 12 kms outside. Increasing incidents as these are not only giving the Forest department a tough time, but are also creating a concern amongst people about the increasing Human Elephant Conflict.