Wild elephant’s death sparks fear

• A tusker electrocuted after stepping on a live wire
• Walks into the trap laid by poachers for wild boars
• The incident leads to pachyderms swarming into reserve forest area and continue trumpeting
• People fear revenge attack by them

Kuppam (Chittoor district): A wild elephant was electrocuted in the reserve forest area under Ramakuppam mandal on Friday. The incident triggered wild elephants trooping into the reserve forest area and started trumpeting, sending shockwaves across the length and breadth of Ramakuppam mandal.

The accident happened when a wild elephant, accompanied by two calves, stepped on a live wire at Nakkalagutta village. The live wire was believed to be a trap laid by poachers for wild boars. As the elephant slumped to the ground, the calves started wailing. The alarm raised by the calves attracted wild elephants not only in the forest area but also on the border of Tamil Nadu. The tuskers soon swarmed into the reserve forest area and started trumpeting since the early hours. The entire reserve forest area reverberated with trumpeting of elephants. It was so terrifying that the people were too scared to go out. The people around Ramapuram Tanda and Ramakuppam area are living in fear of possible revenge attack by the pachyderms on villages.

Chittoor District Forest Officer Chakrapani reached the spot with Forest guards to ensure that the wild elephants do not attack the villages around the forest area.

Chakrapani said a wire was drawn from the 11 kV line and laid on the ground. It was probably a trap for wild boars.
Forest officers launched investigation into the incident. The officers said those responsible for the death of elephants would soon be arrested.