Elephant herd creates panic in Kodagu coffee estate; forest operation planned

In Siddapura, Kodagu, residents are living in constant fear after a group of nearly 38 wild elephants entered the Badaga-Banangala coffee plantation. Among them, one elephant is tagged with a radio collar and is frequently seen wandering across the estate.

The presence of the massive herd has left coffee estate workers frightened, making them reluctant to report for duty. The elephants are not only trampling through the plantations but are also damaging crops, coffee bushes, and trees, adding to the farmers’ distress.

The threat extends beyond the plantation workers. Local schoolchildren, currently appearing for exams, are attending classes amidst growing anxiety. By dusk, villagers are rushing home to avoid potential encounters with the elephants.

Residents have repeatedly appealed to the forest officials to intervene and safely guide the elephants back to their natural habitat. A forest department operation has been scheduled for March 22, aiming to drive the elephants back into the woods. The operation will focus on the villages of Palibetta, Chennayanakote, Badaga-Banangala, and Mekuru-Hoskere, all situated within the Virajpet division under the Thithimathi forest zone.

Forest Range Officer Gangadhar has issued a warning to the villagers, advising them to stay vigilant. He urged students, locals, and estate workers to cooperate fully with the department’s efforts to ensure a smooth operation.

The community hopes the intervention will restore safety and normalcy soon.

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