June 18: Farmers in Sipsu geog in Samtse are spending sleepless night guarding their crops against wild elephants.

Sipsu Gup Ranjit Gurung told BBS that wild elephants have ravaged crops continuously in the past week.

On Friday night, elephants intruded onto the RNR compound in Belboty and ravaged the fodder trees.

In Peljorling village, the elephants partially damaged two temporary classrooms of Peljoring middle secondary school.

In another incident on night of June 16, elephants ravaged about 60 decimals of maize in Peljoring.

The Sispsu Gup told BBS that the situation is worse at this time of the year when farmers are busy with paddy transplantation during day time. Wild elephants intruding on their farmland at night compel them to forego their sleep.

He added this year the elephants started ravaging crops a month early than usual. Usually elephants attack when maize becomes mature.

The Dzongkhag Agriculture Officer said the extent of damage has been assessed and submitted to the Ministry.