Wild elephants in Teknaf, Cox's Bazar, are leaving the hills and coming into villages in search of food, spreading fear among local residents.

On the afternoon of 13 June, a large wild elephant came down from the hills into a settlement at Baraitali in Hnila, Teknaf. Wild elephants had already been seen several times, in herds or alone, in Teknaf's Naitongpara, Hnila, Whykong, Shamlapur, Harikhola and Baharchhara.

It has been learnt that shortages of food and habitat in the hills, deforestation and the encroachment of elephant corridors are driving the animals out of the hill forests towards human settlements.

Wild elephants coming down from the hills do not usually attack people directly. They mainly enter settlements in search of food, water and safe passage. But if frightened or blocked, an elephant can turn aggressive, and elephants can cause extensive damage to farmland and crops.

Local resident Nazrul Islam said: "On Saturday afternoon a wild elephant came down from the hill forest into the Baraitali area. Forest department staff, with the help of locals, then safely returned the elephant to the hills."

Another resident, Ongchi Chakma, said: "At night wild elephants often come into Harikhola village, and local people try together to drive them away. To protect farmland and other property from the elephants, we have to build small tong huts up in the trees and stay awake keeping watch."

Teknaf Range Officer Abdur Rashid said: "On Saturday afternoon a wild elephant came into a settlement in the Baraitali area. Forest department staff, with the help of local people, returned it to the hills."

He added: "Wild elephants come into settlements from time to time. There is no major food shortage for elephants in the forest, yet they still come towards settlements at various times. Elephants usually do not harm anyone and try to go back on their own."

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.