In search of food, wild tusker electrocuted in Chittoor district

Chittoor, May 5 : A wild elephant was electrocuted to death in an agriculture field at Munnar Nayunipalli village under Gangavaram Mandal in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh.

The incident occurred in the wee hours of Tuesday when the elephant hit the electric pole which broke into half and in the process, the animal received an electric shock and died on the spot.

The 12-year-old jumbo was part of a herd. Forest department officials visited the spot and took stock of the situation.

In another incident, K Nirmala was severely injured after the wild elephants attacked her at Musallamadugu village under Palamaner Nirmala in Chittoor district on Tuesday morning. The locals shifted her to a government hospital where her condition is said to be critical.

It may be recalled that on January 22, 2020, an elephant was electrocuted near Palamaner in Chittoor district. The tusker, aged around 18 years, died after it came in contact with an electric pole at an agriculture field in Tekumanda village of Palamaner Mandal in Chittoor district.

Local sources said a herd of elephants which ventured out of Koundinya Reserve Forests damaged crops in parts of Palamaner and Gangavaram Mandals in Chittoor district

Last year, four tuskers died of electrocution in separate incidents at the reserve forests. This year so far, two tuskers have died of electrocution at the reserve forests which is home to around 40 Asiatic elephants.

As there is a shortage of food in the forests, the wild elephants stray into the farmlands and orchards for food in the Chittoor district.