Wild elephant herd wreak havoc

A herd of wild elephants that roamed into several villages including Mapakada and Dambagalla in the Mahiyangana Division had caused much havoc destroying cultivated land and damaging houses, officials said.

Villagers said the herd of about six jumbos roamed into the villages at dusk and destroyed chena cultivation and home garden crops.

Residents said they were living in constant fear to their life and that they would not move out after dusk even to obtain treatment for an urgent

We light fires and elephant crackers to scare away the marauding herd but to no avail. Our children often stay back at home without attending school in fear of any possible danger frequenting the jungle track. We have been facing this danger for more than 40 years,” they said

illness. They said the herd from the Randenigala Forest Reserve roamed into the human habitats across the Mahaweli River in search of fodder and water and frequented the villages in the nights.“We light fires and elephant crackers to scare away the marauding herd but to no avail. Our children often stay back at home without attending school in fear of any possible danger frequenting the jungle track. We have been facing this danger for more than 40 years,” they said.