Udupi
The village of Nadpalu in Hebri taluk is facing the menace of a lone elephant again. Over the past week, this elephant has caused damage to jackfruit and areca nut trees and has trampled paddy fields, disrupting newly planted crops.
In a recent incident, property damage occurred at Usha Shetty’s residence in Nellikatte Kedalamakki, where jackfruit and areca nut trees were knocked down. Freshly sown paddy fields were also trampled, causing agricultural loss. Another resident, Subraya Acharya of Bobbar Betu, reported damage to his pipeline and nearby jackfruit trees.
The elephant’s preference for jackfruit trees has been noted, with it consuming jackfruit leaves and fruits over the past 15 days. It occasionally targets areca nut trees, stripping the bark to eat the inner parts. The elephant’s feeding habits are attributed to the scarcity of banyan trees in the Someshwara Wildlife Sanctuary in the Agumbe region.
In a night time incident at Usha Shetty’s residence, the elephant was scared off by lights as it broke branches of a jackfruit tree. About 15 days ago, the elephant attacked Meena Poojarti’s house, destroying jackfruit, coconut, and banana trees. Villagers protested against the Forest Department, demanding action to drive the elephant away.
According to the Forest Department, the lone elephant has been roaming for 30 years, traveling from Kukke Subramanya in Sullia to various locations, including Hebri and Agumbe. Despite its long journey, no human casualties have been reported.
