Farmers of the forest villages of Yerravaripalem and Chinnagottigallu mandals in the foothills of the Seshachalam ranges in the district are worried as their crops have been raided by wild elephants.
Tirupati Wildlife Division officials confirmed, after an initial estimate, that crops worth Rs. 6 lakh were damaged by elephants during the last fortnight.
Divisional Forest Officer (Wildlife) T.V. Subba Reddy told The Hindu that 25 elephants native to the Seshachalam hills showed a “genetic instinct” to select mango and paddy crops. “The mango orchids in the foothills attract the wild tuskers at the fag end of the season. This year, the damage is very minimal so far, compared to the officially estimated damage of about Rs. 35 lakh last year,” he said.
He said that the farmers with mango orchids close to the foothills were advised not to tease the animals.
