‘Like an earthmover’: Omkar’s night raid devastates young coconut grove

Panaji/Mapusa: Omkar, the sub-adult elephant from Maharashtra who re-entered Goa on Sunday, has left farmers in Torxem on edge after a night of extensive tree damage, uprooting coconut trees with brute force.

As many as 12 coconut trees, planted roughly four years ago, were uprooted in a single spell, according to local accounts.

“It was like watching an earthmoving machine use its arm to dig out the foundation of the building. Such was the ease with which Omkar uprooted the trees,” said local Dayanand Gawandi.

The lone tusker re-entered Goa on Sunday morning, barely three days after being guided into Maharashtra by forest department.

“Compensation is only a temporary bandage on a permanent wound,” said Ramesh Naik, a farmer from Torxem. “It takes at least a decade for horticultural crops to yield again. We don’t want handouts, we want a permanent solution.”

Farmers in Tamboxem, Ugvem and surrounding villages also echoed this sentiment, fearing that their crops, including chillies and rabi vegetables, are now at immediate risk.

Villagers say the elephant has also been stealing and feeding on cashew apples and jackfruit laid out by the farmers post-harvest during the day. This has triggered fear among farmers, who are now concerned about further crop loss and safety in the area.

The elephant’s recent trail of destruction includes two damaged vehicles in Kadshi-Mopa and extensive raids on cashew and banana plantations.

Pernem MLA Pravin Arlekar has assured govt compensation, yet locals are demanding the animal be captured by expert mahouts and relocated to a sanctuary in Karnataka.

For now, the tusker remains in the cashew thickets of Torxem, under the watch of the Goa forest department.
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