Residents of Gelephu in Sarpang are finding it increasingly challenging to co-exist with elephants. The tuskers have been frequently damaging crops and properties and even claimed a life recently. Unable to do anything on their own, they are desperately seeking a solution to this chronic issue.
At around 4:30 yesterday morning, a group of five elephants stormed a storehouse belonging to a resident of Pelrithang Khamaed in Gelephu Gewog.
A giant elephant broke the store’s wooden wall and ate two sacks of grain.
The family members could somehow manage to chase the tuskers away before they caused more damage.
Another resident of Pelrithang Khatoed lost all his fruit trees to elephants last week.
“Of the five elephants, the one close to the store pulled out the sacks filled with grains and started eating. I tried to switch on the corridor light but couldn’t. Then I started banging the roof to chase them and they left with a sack full of grain,” said Shanti Ram Katel, a resident.
“Our crops are getting damaged every year. According to the National Land Commission, we are not supposed to leave our fields fallow. But working so hard in the field is of no use when we lose the crop to the elephants in the end,” said Sangay Rinchen, another resident.
According to the Gelephu Gup, the rising incidences of elephants frequenting the residential areas is due to fallow land. He added that landowners residing in other districts leave their lands fallow which turn into thick bushes becoming an idle place for elephants to hide during the day. The tuskers come out at night looking for food and endangering lives and properties.
“It is not only Gelephu Gewog but the rest of the gewogs in Sarpang are also covered in thick forest. The forest, be it private or government, should be cleared to prevent the elephants from frequenting the villages,” said Prem Prasad Katel, Gelephu Gup.
According to the Gelephu Forest Range office, a Quick Response Team is stationed at the Range office after office hours to help chase elephants and prevent human causalities and damage to properties.
The forest officials also claimed that it is humans who have encroached into the wildlife habitat. They said Gelephu was once a habitat for the elephants which was later inhabited by humans.
Forest officials added this leaves the tuskers no option but to frequent the settlement in search of food and water.
In addition, they also said the tuskers feel safe to reside in Bhutan as there is threat to their lives when visiting the settlements across the border.
Karma Wangdi, Sarpang
Edited by Phub Gyem
