People villages under Teliamura and Kalyanpur sib-divisions in Tripura continue to spend sleepless night due to frequent wild elephant attacks.
Despite several measures, attacks by tuskers remain unabated. Anti Depredation Squad (ADS) has been formed, Forest Department personnel remain alert – however, nothing seems to be adequate enough to stop the rampaging elephants.
On Monday night, elephants strolled into Balucherra Fulbashi Das Para in Teliamura sub-division. The wild jumbos destroyed crop fields and damaged dwellings of local people.
“Elephant attacks are nothing new to us. These animals are storming into our villages frequently. Our lives and livelihood options are at stake. Forest department took some steps – however, those steps have proved futile in curbing the Jumbo menace”, one of the villagers said.
While villagers demanding a permanent solution and stop the elephants from venturing into the villages, veterans of the several affected villages said, this is a case of man-animal conflict. Natural habitats of animals like elephants are fast depleting – thanks to mindless tree felling and destruction of forest.
Scarcity of food in the forest areas is a big issue – elephants after entering into human habitations are targeting crop fields. Later, they destroy residences of villagers to get eatables. Veterans also said, a permanent solution to stop this will to create a safe natural habitat for elephants and keep them confined in their habitat, otherwise all efforts to stop the menace will prove futile.
With Forest Department yet to come out with any plan to create a natural habitat or drive the elephant away to any other existing, if any, natural habitat, local people are panicked and venting anger against the apathy of Forest department personnel.
As the incidences of elephant attacks increased, ADS was formed – however, it is alleged the ADS members have little resources to scare off the rampaging tuskers. Normally crackers are being used in this purpose. However, ADS has insufficient quantity of crackers to push back the elephants.
“During elephant attacks, we make desperate calls to Forest department personnel – responding to out calls, Forest Personnel arrive at the village sans any weapons or adequate quantity of crackers”, alleged Das Para residents.
According to villagers, a serious and meticulous planning is required to solve plight of the common people and save them from elephant attacks. They said, elephant attacks did not cause human loss so far, as ADS members remain vigilant and alert us so that we can evade the attacks.