Yet again elephants are causing menace in Gelegphu. A herd of seven elephants damaged properties at Trashiling last night. The last time, the elephants appeared in the area was in 2019.
A completely damaged refrigerator, some broken household items and a water tank are what the elephants left behind after storming a labour camp at the industrial area in Gelegphu Thromde at around 2:00 today morning. The herd reportedly came in search of food.
“They damaged my labour camp and left the store partially damaged before forest officials came to the site to chase them. Then they went straight up and started causing menace at a construction site. We chased them from there too and left for home thinking they left the area. But I received a call at around two in the morning and learnt that the herd reappeared. I saw they have completely damaged the camp when I reached the site,” said Dorji, who owns the camp.
The same herd also visited the industrial area at around 11:30 PM yesterday and damaged a storehouse belonging to a businessman. The owner claimed that the elephants destroyed household goods worth Nu 75,000.
“Two elephants entered the storehouse after breaking the main door. They started consuming cartoons from the fridge. They even ate the carton packaging of plastic containers,” said Amit Gurung, the owner of the storehouse.
Forestry officials and Desuups came to help chase the herd away.
Dorji, the owner of the damaged labour camp blamed the landowners in Gelegphu Thromde for leaving their plots fallow. He said the plots are covered in thickets which provides a suitable hideout for the elephants during the day. And they come out during the night endangering people’s lives and properties.
“The elephants started coming into the thromde area as most of the area has turned into a jungle. Most of the thram holders are not here. Some are in Thimphu and some in other dzongkhags. So the land belonging to those out of the station are overgrown with bushes. So that serves as a hideout to wild animals during daytime and they come out into the community at night causing the menace.”
Meanwhile, the Gelegphu Thrompon said it is a daunting task to keep the elephants at bay. All they can do is seek the support of the forestry officials to chase them away. It is illegal to kill or cause physical harm to the elephants as per the law. However, as an immediate measure, the Thromde will clear the land in and around the area.
Karma Wangdi, Gelegphu
Edited by Phub Gyem
