(IN) Elephants attack Orissa villages

[Guest guest]

That's an interesting one Shub, the question 'why elephants attack' is

fascinating. I think they are ready for RPG mount ups and formal training

no? Let's face it, Dumbos are not dumb and they are a lot bigger then frail

humans who are stealing their pastures. It makes sense to me that they

would organize and exterminate the pests that are stealing their food and

territory. No matter how many pictures I get in my inbox of big cats kissing

field mice who are eating the cat's dinner, I am not believing that animals

won't resort to extreme violence when push comes to shove. I say we arm them

while they have the (temporary) advantage.

Jigs in Nepal

 

 

 

Tue, 8 Sep 2009 13:11:39 +0530

AAPN List <aapn >

(IN) Elephants attack Orissa villages

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8243217.stm

 

Indian villagers flee elephants

Elephant habitats are shrinking in India

 

*Hundreds of villagers have been forced to take shelter in camps in the

Indian state of Orissa after repeated attacks by a herd of elephants.*

 

Seven people have been killed and several others injured in attacks by a

herd of 12-13 elephants over the past few weeks in Kandhamal district.

 

Over 2,500 people living in 45 villages have been affected by the attacks,

district chief Krishen Kumar said.

 

Wild animals have often entered villages and killed people in India.

 

Conservationists say this is because the natural habitats of the elephants

are shrinking. They blame this on human encroachment, which means animals

have to travel further for food.

 

It is, however, unclear why this herd of elephants migrated from the Lakheri

sanctuary in a neighbouring district.

 

Mr Kumar told the BBC that 500 homes in some seven villages had been

completely destroyed in the attacks, and about 500 residents had taken

shelter in two camps.

 

" People have lost their thatched homes. We will open more camps if the

attacks continue, " Mr Kumar said.

 

He said the herd had travelled some 300km into Kandhamal, and even entered a

town in the district.

 

Wildlife officials were camping at the site of the attacks and trying to

find out why the elephants had come out of their sanctuary.

 

Mr Kumar said the elephants had entered Kandhamal nearly a month ago.

 

But matters came to a head last week when three villagers were killed and

more than 100 homes were destroyed in a single attack.

 

Last year, a rampaging elephant killed at least seven people and injured 24

others in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand.