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Elephant Attacks Disrupt Daily Life in Madikeri District Amid Heavy Rains

Elephant Attacks Disrupt Daily Life In Madikeri District Amid Heavy Rains

Madikeri district is grappling with frequent elephant attacks as herds of tuskers roam through rural areas in search of food, causing widespread damage to plantations and vehicles. The incidents have significantly impacted local communities, posing challenges to daily activities.

Residents have reported instances where elephants suddenly emerge onto main roads, posing threats to vehicles and pedestrians alike. Devayya, a resident of Naladi village, witnessed his parked auto rickshaw being damaged during a tusker movement at night.

In Cheyandane village, farmers Harish and Sajan faced extensive damage to their coffee, coconut, and betel nut plantations. Locals attribute such incidents to deforestation activities in the area, exacerbating human-elephant conflicts.

Similarly, Raghukumar of Attur Village in Suntikoppa suffered complete destruction of his banana plantations by marauding elephant herds searching for food.

Despite efforts by the forest department, elephants continue to pose threats, disappearing during the day and reappearing at night to wreak havoc in plantations. Sightings have been reported along Suntikoppa, Anekadu, and Kushalnagar highways, prompting cautious driving measures among motorists.

Farmers are deeply concerned about the lack of a permanent solution from the government to mitigate elephant attacks, fearing significant losses to the agriculture sector. They urge forest authorities and the forest minister to move beyond meetings and take concrete actions to address the pressing issue.

Efforts are crucial to safeguard both human lives and agricultural livelihoods in Madikeri amidst ongoing challenges posed by elephant movements and habitat encroachment.

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