MADIKERI:A herd of wild elephants continue to trouble the villagers of Devarapura near Gonikoppal. This herd, nestled at the sacred groves near Devarapura, have destroyed plantations in nearby estates causing heavy losses reaching over a lakh.
The recently installed solar fences across estates of Maneyapanda, Kademada, Kanjitanda and Kallichanda families’ estates were shrewdly destroyed by this herd of tuskers. They chucked uprooted trees on these solar fences, disconnecting the entire stretch. After accomplishing this, the jumbo herd went on to destroy coffee and coconut plantations. After feasting to their heart’s content, the herd moved back to settle in the thick sacred groves near the village.
“No serious plan of action has been carried out by the forest department to control the elephant menace in the village,” said Sunil Madappa, a resident. The estates, which are now under attack by these elephants, are losing estate labourers who fear for their lives.