Wokha, September 11 (MExN): Elephants have been roaming the fields of Koio village in Wokha district for the past few days eating the harvested paddy of the farmers apart from rampaging farm houses and banana farms, according to a press release received here.
Team Metamorphosis, a Wokha based NGO, which had visited the paddy fields on September 7, informed that Koio Youth Organization’s President Rhonthungo Patton and General Secretary Chonpen Kikon had said, “For several years the normal lives of the villagers have been disturbed due to the arrival of the wild elephants, because when they come they destroy our fields, farm houses etc.” Even this time, it was informed, it had been already five days since the wild giants appeared.
“And, now the paddy fields are ripening and harvest is round the corner, but villagers are not even able to go to their fields as anything can happen. As a matter of fact, the elephants have eaten some of the rice paddy which has already been harvested apart from rampaging the farm houses and banana farms,” the youth organization officials told Team Metamorphosis.
The youth organization also showed the list of 18 households whose paddy and banana farms the elephants have destroyed, the release issued by Team Metamorphosis said. “The Governments (both the State and the central) and the concerned departments have to take up immediate positive measures to help both the animals and the affected peasants, after all, as a peasant it is very disheartening to have all our endeavors destroyed after one year’s work,” the youth organization said.
The Team Metamorphosis has also appealed to the competent authorities (from both the State and Central governments) to verify the matter and provide any means of assistance to the affected farmers.
