Forest dept forms squad to keep watch on tusker

Kolhapur: An elephant squad has been formed for keeping an eye on the full-grown tusker that was spotted in the Anuskura area of the Shahuwadi taluka, around 55-km from the city, informed H G Dhumal, deputy conservator of forest, Kolhapur on Thursday.

Dhumal added that the elephant is in its natural habitat so there is no point disturbing it. “We will be compensating any crop losses to the farmers,” he said.

“The elephant squad will instruct the farmers about measures one can take to keep the tusker away from the farms,” he added.

Meanwhile, according to a report from the forest department there are around seven elephants residing in the Kolhapur forest area. Of these three are male, 2 are female and 2 are calves.

It should be noted that the rural part of the Kolhapur district is a relatively well-forested area with a significant practice of agriculture and it also forms a major food source for the travelling herds of elephants. Plantations of sugarcane, maize and bananas are the preferences for their food.

Forest officials confirmed the presence of the elephant and said that they are carrying out damage assessment.

“Elephants tend to move around in farms in search of food and their size and movement is the primary reason for the damage they cause,” an official said.

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