ELEPHANT HERD POSES THREAT;

Madikeri June 17, 2006

An elephant herd is posing threat to the residents living around Chettalli.

Stuck with fear the residents took handful of journalists to the area and explained their plight of real life drama.

About six elephants, including a calf are rampaging the estates and threatening people even during day time.

Labourers are not going for work, we cannot send children to schools, life is crippled in this area as elephants have taken the liberty to use our lands and roads even during day time, the residents complain. Forest officials and district administration is taking the issue very lightly, they complain.

This herd is very dangerous as it has a calf with it. A journalist shooting the herd with his camera had to climb on to a tree as the herd tried to charge at him. The presence of pachyderm in the towns and villages is a cause of serious concern which the authorities have to solve. Though, the forest minister Chennigappa held a high level meeting at Hassan last week, little has been done to change the lathergic trend in the department, they villagers say.