Djougou: Three wandering elephants wreak havoc in the village of Déna
For several weeks now, the population of the village of Déna, located in the first arrondissement of Djougou (Donga department), has been living under the constant threat of three wandering elephants.
Eléphant @ Google site
These animals, escaped from their natural habitat, roam around the area, causing significant material damage and increasing concern among the residents.
The pachyderms, sometimes aggressive, systematically target the agricultural farms. For Djodi Sabi, a farmer in the village, the shock is hard. His coconut plantation, a result of heavy investment, was completely destroyed.
“All the trees have been uprooted or trampled. I lose years of work and a crucial source of income,” he laments, as quoted by Fraternité fm.
The situation is not isolated. According to the testimonies gathered locally, several yam fields and food crops have suffered the same fate. The village head, Fousseni Sidi, now fears an imminent food crisis.
“These elephants are jeopardizing our means of subsistence. The villagers are at their wits’ end. We risk famine if nothing is done quickly,” he warns.
Beyond the economic losses, the safety of residents is also at stake. The unpredictable animals roam near homes, posing a constant threat to families.
Faced with this emergency, local authorities are calling for a quick intervention from the forestry services. The village head is making a direct appeal to the Minister of Living Environment and Sustainable Development, urging him to implement a solution to protect the population and preserve the delicate balance of this rural area already affected by climate change.