The granary which was targeted by the elephants on June 1. Khushiabill village council members and ‘goanburrahs’ are seen in the picture.
DIMAPUR, JUNE 1 (MExN): Residents of Khushiabill village are enduring sleepless nights the past few days, courtesy a small group of around three-four hungry wild elephants. According to the villagers the elephants destroyed a granary and a portion of brick fence encircling the village government middle school on June 1. Depen Mech, whose granary was destroyed, said that the pachyderms consumed a sizeable quantity of foodgrains stored therein.
Not far from his house, the elephants entered the compound of the village school after forcing through its brick fence. The target of the elephants was a few sacks of rice kept inside the school’s storeroom. The trouble occurred at around 1:30 am, Depen said. The villagers were later able to chase away the elephants.
This particular group of elephants had started entering the village about four nights back searching for food, a village council member added. Other granaries and plantations were also destroyed during the preceding nights. Properties destroyed were estimated at around Rs. 50, 000.
The worry of the villagers is that elephants seldom trespassed into human habitats the previous years. They normally roam the forests in nearby Karbi Anglong, the council member said. The nearest they would come to the village was up till the Dhansiri river, where they would wallow in the water. Another worry the villagers disclosed was the unusual time of the year, the elephants are trespassing into human territory. The council member said that it is not unusual for elephants to get attracted by the lure of paddy crops during the ripening season or during harvest. With the sowing season hardly beginning, elephants have started targeting granaries filled with the previous harvest.
The villagers notified the district administration. Later in the afternoon today, EAC Chumukedima visited the village. Last year, the village had alerted the department of forests and wildlife on the threat caused by wild elephants to life and property, it was learned. The village called upon the authorities in concern to look into the matter at the earliest.
Not far from his house, the elephants entered the compound of the village school after forcing through its brick fence. The target of the elephants was a few sacks of rice kept inside the school’s storeroom. The trouble occurred at around 1:30 am, Depen said. The villagers were later able to chase away the elephants.
This particular group of elephants had started entering the village about four nights back searching for food, a village council member added. Other granaries and plantations were also destroyed during the preceding nights. Properties destroyed were estimated at around Rs. 50, 000.
The worry of the villagers is that elephants seldom trespassed into human habitats the previous years. They normally roam the forests in nearby Karbi Anglong, the council member said. The nearest they would come to the village was up till the Dhansiri river, where they would wallow in the water. Another worry the villagers disclosed was the unusual time of the year, the elephants are trespassing into human territory. The council member said that it is not unusual for elephants to get attracted by the lure of paddy crops during the ripening season or during harvest. With the sowing season hardly beginning, elephants have started targeting granaries filled with the previous harvest.
The villagers notified the district administration. Later in the afternoon today, EAC Chumukedima visited the village. Last year, the village had alerted the department of forests and wildlife on the threat caused by wild elephants to life and property, it was learned. The village called upon the authorities in concern to look into the matter at the earliest.
