CHITTOOR: A herd of 11 elephants created panic in Pulicherla and Yerravariapalem mandals on Sunday and damaged a few acres of sugarcane and paddy fields.According to forest officials, the elephant herd first entered a sugarcane field in Kommireddygaripalle village of Pulicherla mandal and damaged the crop in about 1.5 acres. They had come from a forest near the area.Later, they moved to Mangalampet village where they damaged a mango orchard in half acre land. The watchman of the mango grove fled for his life.Later, the herd crossed the Beemavaram road near Yerravariapalem and damaged some paddy fields along the way. They frolicked for some time in a water tank in KK Peta village before moving towards Talakona forest. On the way, they damaged another half acre of sugarcane crop in Kalurpalle village.When the last reports came in, Chittoor west circle DFO Subba Reddy and Tirupati wildlife conservator of forests Chalapathi Rao were stationed at Talakona forest to ensure that the elephants do not stray into the habitations again. Officials say the herd is moving towards Kalyani dam through the forest. This is the ninth instance of elephants straying into human habitation in the region in recent months but the first such instance in Pulicherla mandal.Such forays of elephants into agriculture fields has become quite common in the southern parts of the district, particularly in Kuppam and Palamaner constituencies since last one year. Five days ago, three elephants were reported to have ventured near Venkatagiri Moguli village. But they returned to the deep forest after birth of a baby elephant.Last month, when some elephants had strayed into a agriculture field in Chinnagottigallu mandal, a pregnant elephant in the group accidentally fell into a well and died. Officials had removed the body next day. Forest officials say they are taking measures to ensure elephants and other wild animals do not stray into human habitations.
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