Chittoor elephants stray to villages and highways as monsoon delays

A 13-member elephant herd from Tamil Nadu has been straying into villages in Chittoor district, remaining near human habitations for several days. The animals, in search of water, have ventured into populated areas as the monsoon continues to be delayed in the region.

Separately, a lone elephant held up traffic on the Bengaluru highway at Moghili ghat. Wildlife officials have expressed concern over the increased human-wildlife conflict as drought conditions persist and water sources dry up, forcing the animals to move closer to settlements.