Elephants from Nepal damage crops in UP

A herd of elephants from a national park in Nepal, which reached Pilibhit Tiger Reserve in Uttar Pradesh, has damd crops of farmers, forest officials said on Sunday.

Chief Forest Conservator of Bareilly Lalit Verma said herd of around 25 elephants from Nepal's Shuklaphanta National Park reached tiger reserve in Uttar Pradesh almost a month back.

elephants damd crops, following which farmers are forced to keep a watch on ir crops in night.

He added that forest staff is making every effort to drive away elephants.

" herd goes towards Nepal, but returns to Tarai area in night. On Saturday, se elephants destroyed watch tower of forest department. elephants damd paddy and sugarcane in fields of Piparia Santosh vill. villrs played drums and blew trumpets to drive away jumbos, but to avail," Verma said.

second herd of elephants reached near Hardoi canal on Saturday night.

Deputy director of Pilibhit Tiger Reserve Naveen Khandelwal said staff of tiger reserve is keeping a round--clock watch on elephants, which have been staying here for past one month.