Wild elephants kill 11 in Cox's Bazar in five months

COX'S BAZAR, Mar 6: Herds of elephants often go on the rampage as their natural habitats have been destroyed in Ukhia upazila, according to sources.

The Bangladesh government constructed 12 new refugee camps in Ukhia and Teknaf upazilas of Cox's Bazar district in September last year. Most of the refugee camps were built in hilly areas.

Elephants in bordering areas often go wild as their natural habitats were destroyed during the construction of camps while Myanmar army built barbed wire fence on their side.

When contacted, Divisional Forest Officer of Cox's Bazar South forest department Mohammad Ali Kabir said wild elephants cross between Bangladesh and Myanmar through Tumbru border. For lack of sufficient habitats, elephants go wild and attack refugee camps and houses of local villagers, he said.

Locals said wild elephants chased Myanmar soldiers and BGP members on last Saturday and Sunday night. Myanmar forces were compelled to go back in fear of attack by elephants, witnesses said.

According to Ukhia police station sources, at least 11 persons were killed and 20 injured in attacks by wild elephants in Kutupalong and Balukhali refugee camps in last five months. Of them, 8 were Rohingya refugees and 3 were Bangladeshi villagers. At least 70 'kutcha' houses were damaged by elephants, police said.

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