Impact of deforestation: Elephant herd incursion in Mandya district

The significant elephant herd incursion on October 2 prompted widespread concern among the inhabitants of Hosa Boodanur and Hale Boodanur in Mandya district.

Villagers found themselves in close proximity to these massive animals on the outskirts of Mandya town, adjacent to the Bengaluru-Mysuru national highway.

The resulting commotion disrupted traffic as both law enforcement and forest authorities enacted precautionary measures to deter individuals from accessing the highway.

The elephants, in their quest for sustenance, ventured into a nearby sugarcane field, causing substantial damage to the crops.

The sight of these formidable creatures drew large crowds, inadvertently hindering efforts to safely redirect them away from the densely populated area.

Remarkably, these elephants had previously been observed in nearby villages but had now encroached dangerously close to the town.

The unusual movement of these pachyderms toward Mandya was attributed to the detonation of firecrackers during a Ganesha idol immersion procession, which unnerved and disoriented the elephants.

In light of this, forest officials requested the police to communicate the importance of refraining from fireworks to the public, as any disturbances could further complicate their efforts.

As an added measure, experts from Israel, based in Bengaluru, were enlisted to collaborate with the local forest officials in orchestrating the safe return of the elephants to their natural habitat, minimizing the potential risks associated with their proximity to human settlements.