Elephants destroy banana plants in Thalavadi Hills

A herd of elephants strayed into a banana plantation at Hasanur and destroyed more than 200 banana trees on Friday night (February 13, 2026), prompting farmers to demand adequate compensation.

The affected farmer, Ravi of Old Hasanur, had cultivated banana crops on his farm, which were nearing harvest. According to farmers, the herd entered the plantation after emerging from the nearby forest area and damaged over 200 banana trees by uprooting and trampling them.

Alerted by the noise, neighbouring farmers rushed to the spot and found the elephants inside the field. They later drove the herd back into the forest by bursting firecrackers and raising loud noises. Ravi expressed distress over the extensive damage, stating that the crop had been raised with considerable investment and effort.

Local farmers said incidents of elephants entering farmlands in the region have become frequent. Crops such as banana, coconut, sugarcane, ragi, maize and cabbage are often targeted, resulting in significant financial losses, especially when the crops are close to harvest.

The affected farmers have urged the Forest Department to assess the damage and provide appropriate compensation to Ravi. They also called upon officials to take effective measures to prevent wild elephants from entering agricultural lands and to safeguard farmers’ livelihoods.