Wild animals have become a potent threat to mango growers in Periyakulam as they often raid farms in search of food and water.
A lone Indian gaur entered a mango farm near Sothuparai dam on Wednesday, posing a threat to farm workers in nearby farms.
Thousands of farmers have been cultivating mango in Sothuparai and Kumbakarai areas near Periyakulam reserve forests for the past several years.
Commencement of mango season attracted wild animals, especially Indian gaurs, towards mango farms, mostly those situated close to the reserve forests. The wild animals camped in the farms for long. It would be difficult to drive them back into the forests, said the farm workers.
More than 15 persons had so far been killed by wild animals in the block. Even now, Indian gaurs were roaming freely in several mango farms in the mornings and evenings near Sothuparai dam, they said. Farmers appealed to the forest officials to drive the Indian gaur that was spotted on Wednesday into the forest and take some permanent measures to prevent the entry of wild animals into villages.
Forest officials said that sumptuous food and abundantly available water attracted the animals to these farms. “Even if we drive them back, they would come again,” they added. The villagers recalled that an Indian gaur entered Periyakulam town and created panic among the residents 20 days ago. The forest officials struggled for more than 10 hours to chase it back into the forest.
Migration of wild animals in Cumbum area was also heavy in recent days. A deer which moved towards Periyar river side in Cumbum slipped into the river and died recently, recalled forest officials.
