Farmers demand relocation of crop raider jumbo in Erode

Due to persistent drought due to lack of monsoons, over 20 elephants have camped at Vilamundi forest in Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (STR) in Erode.

Farmers complain that the herd of elephants often stray into their villages to raid on sugarcane and maize crops. Of them, one has become a regular crop raider, causing huge loss to the farmers.

The jumbo intruded into a farm owned by Duraisamy and destroyed over 50 well-grown crops on Saturday night. On information, Forest officials rushed to the spot and attempted to drive away the elephant using fire crackers.

However, the elephant remained unperturbed till early Sunday morning. It then retreated into the jungle on its own. The farmers have demanded the Forest department to either relocate the elephant or prevent further crop raids.

In The Nilgiris, the Forest department has warned vehicle drivers to be cautious due to the crossing of wild elephants on the arterial roads. The warning comes after an elephant, which got separated from its herd, blocked the Manjur-Ketti Road on Saturday night.

When vehicle drivers tried to chase it away by honking, the jumbo turned violent and charged at the public. Later, it went back into the forest area.

Similarly, at Thattamparai and Kottappadi, two wild elephants blocked the Ayyankolli-Kolapalli Road for half an hour resulting in traffic congestion on Sunday morning.