National
Elephant menace hits Saptari
A herd of elephants from the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve has been wreaking havoc in different parts of Saptari district. In the past one month, around 40 houses were destroyed and about two dozen families displaced by the elephant menace. The locals are terrorised as the elephants continue to destroy houses and crops and attempt to attack people.Abdhesh Kumar Jha
A herd of elephants from the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve has been wreaking havoc in different parts of Saptari district. In the past one month, around 40 houses were destroyed and about two dozen families displaced by the elephant menace. The locals are terrorised as the elephants continue to destroy houses and crops and attempt to attack people.
Brijaman Tamang, a journalist, said, four elephants enter the settlements almost every night. “The local people gather in a small group, make bonfire and beat zinc sheet to chase away the elephants,” said Brijaman.
The locals complained that the authorities concerned pay no heed to their plight. “How long can we chase away the elephants by staying up the whole night? If the government does not take any initiative to control the wild animals, the residents of northern Saptari will be displaced,” said Kami Singh Tamang, a local. Seventeen people in Saptari, Udayapur and Sunsari districts have been killed in elephant attacks within the past six years.
Chief District Officer Surendra Paudel said that the recent meeting of the disaster management committee decided to mobilise security personnel of Nepal Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force to chase away the animals. We are preparing to request the centre for a long term solution of the problem, Paudel added.
Bear terror in Damauli
DAMAULI: The residents of several settlements in Bhanu Municipality-13 of Tanahun have demanded the government authorities to take initiatives to stop bears from entering the area.
Locals said a bear with its two cubs enter the settlements daily and destroy crops. “No human casualty has been reported so far but we are in constant fear,” said Rafik Miya. (PR)