20–25 Wild Elephants Destroy Crops and Orchards in Jamua and Kaliyam Panchayats
Key Points:
- Herd of 20–25 elephants raiding Chakulia villages nightly for days
- Jackfruit, mango and banana trees damaged in Songhati village
- Villagers in Jamua and Kaliyam panchayats suffering heavy losses
CHAKULIA – A herd of 20 to 25 wild elephants has been terrorising the villages of Jamua and Kaliyam panchayats in Chakulia block for several days, causing extensive damage to crops, orchards and trees.
Jackfruit hanging on trees has been attracting the herd particularly this season. Every evening, the elephants emerge from the forest and move into the villages, targeting jackfruit trees.
In Songhati village, the elephants broke into orchards the previous night. They plucked jackfruit from the trees, ate large quantities and destroyed much of the remaining fruit.
Moreover, banana and mango trees have also come under attack. The herd has been entering orchards, consuming mangoes and snapping branches off mango trees.
Meanwhile, the damage has inflicted heavy losses on local farmers. Villagers said the raids were happening repeatedly, leaving them with little left from their seasonal produce.
On the other hand, residents of the elephant-affected areas said they remained on edge after sunset. The animals return to the forest before dawn, making it difficult to guard crops through the night.
The Chakulia block has seen recurring elephant incursions in recent years. However, the current bout of raids has continued for an unusually prolonged stretch, worsening the distress of farming households in both panchayats.
