Loss as stray elephants ravage Kitgum villages

KITGUM-Stray elephants numbering at least 100 have reportedly destroyed hundreds of acres of crops in four villages in Kitgum district. The most affected villages are Masaka, Orabul, Oryebo, and Odilang in Namokora Sub-county.

Geoffrey Opyet, the LCIII Chairperson of Namokora Sub-county suspects the elephants could have strayed from Kidepo National Game Park.

Opyet said the elephants invaded the villages on Monday destroying over 1000 acres of food crops,  destroying several plants and trees including mangoes, and pumpkins.

According to Opyet, when contacted, a response team from Kidepo went to assess situations “but the number of stray elephants was overwhelming and the team went back, the response team is expected to drive away stray elephants”.

Stephen Odokonyero, a resident of Orabul village said he lost three acres of sesame, five mangoes trees, and his pit latrine to the elephants’ invasion.

According to Odokonyero, they are living in fear of famine since several acres of food crops have been destroyed living them with no alternative food source.

To help the affected residents, Christopher Obol Arwai, the LCV Chairperson of Kitgum said the district disaster management committee was on the ground to assess the level of destruction before informing the Office of the Minister [OPM] for food relief support.

Obol said that the district leadership was already in contact with Uganda Wildlife Authority-UWA to have the Elephants driven away.

Hanji Bashir, the communications manager of Uganda Wildlife Authority [UWA]when contacted confirmed the invasion, saying the rangers were working with the community members to drive back the elephants to the park.

“We are working with 25 scouts picked from the community to help drive back the wild animals to the park,” Bashir said.

Bashir said UWA  was planning to install an electric fence as a long-term solution to the human-wild animal conflict.

“We have dug trenches to prevent the animals from crossing but the long term is electric fencing. We are still doing this in other parks like Queen Elizabeth, Murchison Falls, and others. We will eventually come to Kidepo when we finish other parks,” Bashir said.

https://thecooperator.news/buliisa-residents-petition-uwa-over-destruction-of-crops-by-elephants/

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