Kothayar, Kanniyakumari: This hilly region, home to several tribal farming communities, has long struggled with recurring elephant incursions. But for the farmers here, the latest attack feels like the last straw.
Unmistakable paw marks are the only sign that this banana plantation was destroyed by a herd of elephants.
Ashokan a farmer, said, “Elephants are terrifying animals for us humans. We live here in constant fear. We take loans at high interest rates to do farming. To repay them, we do work for daily wages. The elephants have caused immense damage to our banana plantations. Whom should we report this to? When we inform the forest officials, they say such incidents won't happen again, yet they keep recurring. They have also not fenced the locality, despite repeated promises.”
Farmers say their losses are mounting, as elephant raids have become both frequent and unpredictable. With no effective preventive measures in place, they are urging the Forest Department to install the long-promised fences to protect their livelihoods.