Villagers seek capture of tusker in Bhavanisagar area

A day after a rogue elephant was trapped and translocated in neighbouring Coimbatore district, residents of three villages in Bhavanisagar forest area under Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve today urged forest personnel to capture a wild tusker which has been damaging crops in the region.
Kembiah, a villager of Karatchikorai village near Thengumarahata forest area, submitted a petition on behalf of the villagers to the forest department in this regard.
The petition said the single male elephant had been wandering in Pungar, Annanagar, Karatchikorai and a few other areas and also entered fertile lands causing damage to banana and sugarcane crops in the region.

The villagers have failed in their attempt to scare away the elephant by beating drums and waving burning torches, he said adding they were unable to leave their homes after 7 pm due to fear of attack by the jumbo.
They appealed to the forest department to capture the elephant with the help of Kumki elephants as was done in Madukarai in Coimbatore.