Elephant herd destroying crops in villages near Anekal; Lone tusker spotted near Harangi dam

BENGALURU, MADIKERI: A herd of eight elephants have been going on the rampage around Kariyanapalya on the border of Anekal, destroying crops in fields.

The herd has been creating trouble for the last one week, destroying crops like flat beans (avarekai), ragi, string beans and tomato, cultivated by farmers in villages around Kariyanapalya. Locals complained that despite the huge damage, the Forest Department has not taken any action.

The lone tusker has been spotted near Harangi dam frequently of late.

Meanwhile, a lone tusker was spotted in the backwaters of the Harangi dam near Kushalnagar in Kodagu district, causing panic among the Irrigation Department staff. The elephant is believed to have come from the Yadavanadu forest.

The elephant was seen moving around the Harangi elephant camp and the water sports area. It took a swim in the backwaters for about 1 km and seen heading towards the Attur reserve forest. The tusker has been frequently spotted near the backwaters over the last few days, causing anxiety among tourists too.