The farmers are a worried lot in Kendrapada district with wild boars destroying their paddy crop at a time when they are about to harvest it. These straying animals from forests in Rajnagar and Mahakalapada blocks have almost caused havoc for them by damaging huge acres of standing paddy.
The farmers were already worried after cyclone Phailin destroyed their crop to a great extent. And to rub salt into their wound, these wild animals have begun destroying the standing ripen paddy.
As the Government has done little to save them from the wild animals, so the farmers have started guarding their fields at night by erecting temporary watch shed, said Sarbeswar Jena, a farmer of Brahmanisahi village.
Many farmers alleged that though the wild boar menace has grown acute in the two blocks of Rajnagar and Mahakalpada, but the forest department has not shown any interest in curbing it.
It may be noted here that in last month, as many as one person was killed, whereas a few others sustained injuries in wild boar attacks.
To drive away the wild boars, the forest personnel have not taken any steps. Nor did they erect solar fencing at the boundary of the national park, rued many farmers.
Notably, the wild boars are creating worries in Gupti, Rangani, Talachua, Iswarpur, Brahmanisahi, Pravati, Rajendranarayanpur, Chinchiri, Kathuaganda, Satabhaya, Barahipur, Jamboo, Sasanpeta and other villages of Rajnagar and Mahakalapada blocks.
According to DFO Kedar Kumar Swain, the wild boars do not destroy paddy, but they attack whosoever come their way. As several human habitations are near the Rajnagar mangrove forest area, so the wild boars and other animals straying from the forest, enter into paddy fields and villages, leading to man-animal conflict, he said, informing that to protect the life and property along with restricting the crop damage by the wild boars, the forest personnel have formed anti depredation squads, engaging local youths and farmers.
The forest department has undertaken solar fencing in some places on the boundary of Bhitarkanika national park as well, Swain informed.