A large herd of elephants from Kidepo game reserves destroyed over 140 crops’ farms in Bira, Losite Payam of Ikwoto County in Eastern Equatoria state.
Losite Payam Head chief Alex Kwatir on Wednesday petitioned the state ministry of Local Government, Law Enforcement and Wildlife Conservation over crops destruction, Emmanuel Radio reported.
He disclosed that Lowas valley and Naoyakitele residents lost all their crops to stray elephants.
Chief Kwatir noted that many affected families were under hunger threat.
He called on the state government to deploy an assessment team to Bira to determine intensity of the destruction and assist the affected families.
State Minister for Local Government, Law Enforcement and Wildlife Conservation, Charles Lokonoi confirmed the report, saying they deployed an emergency response force to assess the destruction.
He pointed out that a platoon of wildlife forces deployed to Bira was inadequate to control a huge number of elephants.
Minister Lokonoi said he contacted the Wildlife Conservation Society to assist by scaring the elephants from farm lands.
He said the state government plans to relocate residents to safer place to avoid future destructions because Bira agricultural lands lie along wildlife migration route.
The Minister alerted residents along the wildlife corridors that over one thousand elephants were heading to Magwi County.
He warned residents along wildlife routes against attempts to kill elephants.
Losite Payam in Ikwoto County is near Kidepo game reserve making it easy for wild animals to invade the area.