Clever elephant-herd outsmarts kumkis, raids crops along Chittoor–TN border

A herd of 13 wild elephants has been camping in a valley along the Andhra Pradesh–Tamil Nadu border for several weeks, causing crop damage and keeping villagers in parts of Chittoor district on edge.

The herd, originally comprising 11 elephants from Karnataka forests, entered the Koundinya Wildlife Sanctuary belt near Palamaner in the first week of January through the Chenji forests of the Gudiyattam range in Tamil Nadu. By the first week of February, two calves were born within the group, increasing the herd’s strength to 13. Excluding the newborn calves, the herd comprises nine females and two males.

The elephants are currently stationed in a small valley in Gudipala mandal, 15 km from Chittoor, surrounded by forested hillocks between Paradharami village in Tamil Nadu and the Chittapara forest beat in Chittoor district. The valley, which borders Tamil Nadu forests, has good vegetation and a stream, providing a temporary refuge and ample fodder for the animals.

Initially, forest officials expected the herd to move naturally towards the Palamaner range and eventually return to Karnataka as part of its migratory movement. However, the elephants have remained in the valley and have begun raiding nearby agricultural fields.

To address the situation, the forest department deployed four trained elephants, known as kumkis, led by the well-known kumki Jayanth from Kuppam. Around 40 forest personnel accompany the kumkis daily to drive the wild herd towards the Palamaner forest range.

Officials say the herd has been unusually tactical in its movements. While kumkis attempt to push them northwards, the elephants slip out in the opposite direction to raid crops in Panatur and Muttavallur villages in the north and south respectively.

Crop losses over the past fortnight have been estimated at around ₹10 lakh, with further damage still being assessed. Villagers also report that the elephants often enter human habitations soon after dusk, knocking against compound gates and occasionally doors of houses before retreating to the valley by dawn.

Forest Range Officer M. Pattabhi said villagers were extending full cooperation, even agreeing to night-time power shutdowns to prevent accidental electrocution of elephants moving through fields and rural roads. “Presence of a large herd, particularly with two calves, makes the situation sensitive and risky for villagers travelling along rural roads in the forest fringe areas between Chittoor and Vellore districts,” he said.