Rampaging elephants are continuing to wreak havoc in Samtse. Recently, wild elephants destroyed over a hundred areca palm trees.
The areca palm trees belonged to 53-year-old Pema Lhamo, a farmer in Peljorling B of lower Tashichoeling Gewog.
“The elephants came continuously for four nights,” recalls Pema Lhamo. “My neighbors didn’t come to help me chase away the elephants. Only a boy did come but it was raining heavily and we couldn’t do anything.”
Pema is a single mother. Her husband died three years ago. Areca nut is her only source of income. But now with almost half of the trees destroyed, Pema fears what she has been left with wouldn’t fetch her enough money to feed her family.
It takes eight years for the areca palm trees to bear fruits. Had the elephants not destroyed the trees, Pema would be reaping the first harvest.
“All my hard work has gone down the drain. The trees have just started bearing fruits,” she lamented.
Fortunately, she had insured her trees with the Royal Insurance Corporation of Bhutan Limited (RICBL).
Forest officials said she will receive Nu 150 for every fruit bearing tree that was lost. But the amount will be paid only next year by the Community Elephant Committee formed last year.
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