A herd of around 22 elephants has been seen in the Erravaripalem forest area within Chandragiri limits of Tirupati district, and the Forest Department has issued an alert to people living in nearby villages.
The elephant herd is moving at Siddalagandi Cheruvu (Kotakadapalli panchayat), forest officials said. They are keeping a close eye on the movement of the animals and have asked the local people to be cautious until the herd moves deeper into the forest.
Elephants may move towards nearby villages
Forest Department officials have warned that the herd could potentially move towards VR Colony, Vemulavada, and Kotakadapalli villages.
Residents in those areas should be careful when travelling near forest boundaries, agricultural fields, and water bodies, it said.
Officials have also advised people in Ayyagaripalli, Puligonapalli, and Nerabailu villages to remain vigilant because elephant movements can change depending on the availability of food, water, and shelter.
Forest officials Monitoring the Herd
A large herd has also made wildlife residents very concerned because elephants can travel a great distance to eat and drink.
Forest officials are monitoring the herd's movement and assessing the possibility of the animals entering areas close to human settlements.
Residents should not approach the elephants or try to photograph or chase them, the information was said.
Public Urged To Stay Alert
The Forest Department has advised villagers to keep to themselves so as not to move in areas where elephant activity has been seen.
People should keep a safe distance if elephants are seen and immediately inform forest officials instead of trying to drive the animals away themselves.
Special care is called for at early hours and at night when wildlife movement can be considerable.
Avoid Disturbing The Elephants
Elephants are generally peaceful when left undisturbed, but when they feel threatened, they will be aggressive, especially if they are surprised at close range or when calves are present.
It is therefore safe for the residents to avoid gathering around the herd.
Officials have also advised not to make loud noises, throw anything, or try to block the animals’ movements.
Villagers were asked to obey Forest Department instructions.
The Forest Department would follow up and provide more information as the herd moved.
Residents of villages around the Chandragiri forest area should follow official advice and report any elephant sightings near the residential areas immediately.
The sighting of 22 elephants in the Chandragiri forest region underlines the importance of awareness in areas where human settlements and wildlife habitats are located close to each other.
For now, the authorities have asked residents to remain calm but watchful and never enter areas where the elephant herd has been reported.
