MADIKERI: The mananimal conflict has reached a stage where wild elephants seem to have shifted their abode permanently to coffee estates across the district.
Adding to the agony of the farmers, where scanty rainfall hampered the paddy cultivation in North Kodagu, wild elephants are hampering the estates.
On Wednesday morning, it was a miraculous escape for more than 30 women working in Kodagarahlli Estate between Sunticoppa and Kodagarahllli, when three wild elephants and went right up to the state highway Mysore-Buntwal crossing Sunticoppa.
Supervisor Kishore cautioned the workers to move to safety. As the news spread, thousands of people gathered to watch the Forest Department officials and estate workers chase away the jumbos. People say elephants are now as common as stray dogs and cattle. Those injured are claiming compensation from the estate owners.
The Forest Department expressed its helplessness citing shortage of guards, watchers and lack of equipment.