Elephant shelter proposed in Manyam dist

The forest officer in Visakhapatnam’s Parvathipuram Manyam district, G.A.P. Prasuna, has announced plans for establishing an elephant shelter to reduce crop damage, human fatalities, injuries, and livestock deaths caused by elephant encounters. Since 2018, estimated crop losses due to elephant attacks have amounted to Rs 13 crore, affecting around 4,000 farmers across 3,500 acres. Prasuna explained that elephants’ natural behaviour, including their extensive travel in search of food, water, and shelter, makes it challenging to predict their movements and prevent conflicts with humans. The forest department is actively working to minimize these conflicts, including monitoring elephant movements, appointing trackers to alert villagers, and processing compensation claims for affected farmers. Prasuna emphasized the importance of peaceful coexistence between humans and wildlife and ensuring the safety of those living in areas frequented by elephants.