(IN): Villagers on guard after jumbo attack

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Link: http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070430/asp/guwahati/story_7714231.asp

 

Villagers on guard after jumbo attack

 

A STAFF REPORTER

 

April 29: The city seems to have a jumbo menace on its hands. After a

rogue elephant trampled a villager to death at Deepor Beel on the city

outskirts on Friday night, forest officials have asked the people not

to disturb the herd that wandered into the area a few weeks ago.

 

" The people of the area must remain calm. It looks as though the

elephants were disturbed, which may have led the animal to attack the

villager, " a forest official said.

 

Firecrackers have been distributed to forest guards to keep the

elephants at bay.

 

" What happened on Friday was an accident, " the official said. The

victim, Gandhi Rongpi, was on his way home from work. Elephants often

wander in search of food at night, but retreat into surrounding

thickets in the morning. Such an incident has not occurred in the area

in a long time.

 

Residents, however, are on their guard.

 

" It is shocking that a man has been trampled by elephants here, " a

villager said. " Residents of the area should get together work out a

solution to prevent what could escalate into a menace. "

 

The official stressed it was important for people living near the

wetlands to co-exist with the wandering herds. " The problem is, there

is still no management plan for Deepor Beel as there are many

departments with a stake in it, " he said.

 

The waterbody was designated as a Ramsar Site in November 2002.

 

The rail tracks snaking past Deepor Beel also pose a problem, as there

have been a number of mishaps involving elephants.

 

Vehicular and industrial pollution, encroachment and excessive hunting

and fishing are taking their toll on the wetland, which is also home

to a variety of rare birds. The bird sanctuary at Deepor Beel, has,

however, yet to be notified by the state government.