Wild animals search for food in villages of Bangladesh's hilly regions

Elephants, monkeys and snakes have wandered into villages in Chittagong's Banshkhali, Sitakunda and Mirsarai at an increased rate this year.

The clearing of forests in the hills was threatening biodiversity and forcing animals to search for new sources of food, experts and forest officials have said.

A lone elephant came down from the hills to Kokdondi village of Banshkhali's Kalipur Union on Jun 23. "Our home and fruit orchard are very near to the hills," said Pulok Debdas.

"Elephants never used to come down here. But they came here nearly 27 times this year. They come alone, in pairs or in groups of six to seven."    

The elephants ravage the trees around the household to eat jackfruits, pineapples, bananas and also bamboo before returning to the hills, he said.

They can stay up to three days, and sometimes rest in the house's front yard, he said. "They are never disturbed here, so they don’t harm humans."
"I used to get scared at first, but not anymore," said Debdas.

Forest officials have been trying to convince locals to not clear banana plants which are the main sources of food for wild elephants, said Kalipur Forest Ranger Shahjahan Chowdhury.

"But the locals are shrinking their food sources by continuing to cut banana plants," he said, mentioning a plan to replant trees in the Kalipur hills.  

In Sitakunda, 40 to 50 monkeys ended up at the Sombhunath temple on Friday noon.

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