Daijiworld Media Network – Beltangady (MS)

Beltangady, Dec 7: Herd of wild elephants entered farms at Boliyar of Dharmasthala and Panikallu of Kadirudyavara village on the late night of Tuesday and destroyed huge number of arecanut trees.

The pachyderms entered the farm of Raghavendra Patavardhan, resident of Panikallu after midnight. The inmates of the house, along with neighbours burst crackers and tried to scare away the herd. By then the herd uprooted ten arecanut trees. This is the third time in a month’s time the elephants have raided the farm of Raghavendra and he has lost more than 100 arecanut trees and plantains.

Locals said that there were more than six elephants in the herd that destroyed the crop on Monday. They arrived from Charmadi and went back to Charmadi after ransacking the farm. Three elephants including two baby elephants are roaming in the vicinity of Boliyaru of Dharmasthala since two or three days. They destroyed nearby farms. Locals said that the elephants were found standing near Periyashanti highway.

Since a week, elephant menace is on the rise in the areas in and around Charmadi Ghat. Residents are scared to venture out in the night.