CHENNAI: More than 600 farmers gathered outside the forest department headquarters at Saidapet here demanding action by officials to end the menace caused two wild elephants in Thondamuthur region in Coimbatore district.The two wild elephants -- Vinayaga and Chinnathambi -- have been in the region for more than six months. They have caused the deaths of eight people and damaged crops.Farmers from Coimbatore, Erode, Tiruvannamalai, Tirupathur, Tirupur and Vellore on Monday met principal chief conservator of forests H Mallesappa and asked him to either translocate the elephants or issue shooting orders.The official said media reports that the elephant could not be translocated were false. He said the forest department was prepared with men and machinery to move the elephant out of the region.“We have to do it during the day before 6pm as the effect the tranquilliser will be there for several hours and the elephants need to be treated in case of any injuries. We are waiting and once the elephants come out, we will start the operation,” said Mallesappa.The farmers will meet the Coimbatore district collector on December 21 in case action is not taken on translocation of the two elephants.Farmers also sought compensation for crop damage and losses caused by wild boars, peacocks and deer.P Kandaswamy, state general secretary of farmers association, said in all the districts whenever farmers submitted applications, they were rejected.“The principal chief conservator of forests has agreed to issue a circular asking range officers to accept these applications,” he said.The farmers said they were booked whenever a peacock died, either naturally or due to pesticides poisoning. They wanted the situation to end.Mallesappa promised them that he would discuss the issue with the minister concerned and central government officials to find a solution.

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