Date:13/10/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/10/13/stories/2007101354390400.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Tuskers kill 14-year-old boy

V. Chalapathi Rao

Herd refuses to leave the area due to the death of an elephant

Villagers were trying to drive away nine wild elephants that were moving dangerously
With the killing of Prabhakar, the number of tribals killed by the elephants has risen to five

VIZIANAGARAM: A 14-year-old boy, T. Prabhakar, was killed by wild elephants at Nagarkuntubai in Kurupam mandal in the early hours on Friday, according to Divisional Forest Officer B. Ramana Babu.

The tragedy struck when the villagers tried to drive the nine wild elephants that have been moving dangerously for the past two months in the tribal villages. With the killing of Prabhakar, the number of tribals killed by the elephants has risen to five.

In August, Biddika Sompa, 40, of Addamguda in G.L. Puram mandal, was killed by a herd of 11 elephants, including two baby elephants. After a gap of about eight days, Toika Basari, 50, Toika Garbamma, 45, and Toika Dharma Rao, 12, were trampled to death at Vadabhai in the same mandal.

Minister for Forests S. Vijayarama Raju, ordered deployment of a trained elephant named ‘Jayant’ from Chittoor along with mahouts and trackers to tackle the menace.

The ‘Operation Tusker’ began on August 25 but forest officials could not succeed in their attempt to drive the herd into the forest area in Orissa.

The Divisional Forest Officer said the herd was not leaving the area due to the death of an elephant at Darsi.

Later, inclement weather and heavy inflows into Vamsadhara forced them to suspend the operation.

Out of the remaining 10 elephants, one reportedly crossed over to Orissa with an injured leg. The other nine are taking rest in the morning and moving at night, causing considerable damage to crops.

Officials feel that the elephants have made the forest area in Kurupam and G.L. Puram mandals their home and they would not return to Orissa.