June 27: Farmers in Bidung geog under Trashigang dzongkhag are spending sleepless night guarding their fields. Despite their efforts around 60 to 70 percent of the crops including maize, ground nuts and potatoes have been destroyed by wild boars.

The Bidung Mangmi Ugyen Tshering said the wild boars mostly attack maize.

The extent of damage caused by the wild boars this year is more compared to last year. Bidung geog has 18 villages with more than 400 households.

Over in Sarpang, it’s not wild boars but wild elephants that are depriving the people of their sleep and their crop.

Our reporter Sonam Rinchen says around four areas of crops has been destroyed in Singye geog by herds of wild elephants from May till now. It has also damaged a makeshift hut on June 23.

The District Forest Officer Kado Tshering said they have received several reports of wild elephants damaging crops, the most affected being Singye geog which is located next to a dense forest.

He said forestry officials have been deployed day and night to help farmers chase the elephants.