WILD ELEPHANTS DESTROY HOUSES, CULTIVATION

Aherd, consisting of about ten wild elephants strayed into the human habitats in the Soraborawewa, Halwewa and Orubendiwewa areas, caused panic among the villagers and destroyed houses and cultivation.

Area residents said several houses, paddy fields and Chena cultivation had been destroyed by the marauding jumbos. They said even the school-children were compelled to remain at home in fear of possible attack by the wild elephants that were frequenting the jungle tracks.

A villager, M.M. Karunaratne said a bag of rice purchased from the boutique was gulped down by a jumbo that chased after him when he was returning home after work.

He said the Wildlife Conservation Dept. officials turned a deaf ear t o the continual representations regarding the danger. They requested the authorities to drive away the pachyderms to a forest reserve.