Separated from herd, Elephant Omkar wreaks havoc in North Goa farms

Farmers in Pernem are grappling with fear and mounting losses as a 10-year-old elephant , Omkar , continues to stray through villages, destroying crops and property . The animal, which has been moving along the Goa–Maharashtra border, has resurfaced in the region after a brief absence, sparking fresh concern among residents.

According to forest department officials, Omkar has been actively foraging in cashew plantations and orchard farms in and around Mopa. With paddy fields now fully grown and ready for harvest, farmers fear that a single incursion could wipe out months of hard work within hours .

Omkar had first entered Goa in September last year after straying from its herd in Sindhudurg. Though it briefly reunited with the herd, the elephant has repeatedly crossed back into Goa. Officials confirmed that it was last sighted again on March 23 and has since been moving through border areas.

A 25-member forest department team has been deployed to monitor the elephant’s movements. However, surveillance efforts face limitations due to the proximity of Manohar International Airport, which restricts drone usage in the area.

Residents have reported increasing incidents of damage. Vehicles have been overturned, two-wheelers destroyed, and farms ravaged. Despite the losses, some locals acknowledge that the elephant’s behaviour is driven by necessity. Changes in land use including the replacement of traditional forest cover with rubber and banana plantations have reduced natural food sources, pushing wildlife into human settlements.

The elephant was previously linked to a fatal incident in Maharashtra , prompting authorities there to issue a capture order. Attempts to drive it back into the wild have so far proven unsuccessful, with reports suggesting that human interference, such as bursting crackers, may have contributed to its erratic movement across the border.

As anxiety deepens, farmers say they are spending sleepless nights guarding their fields . Authorities have indicated that crop damage assessments and compensation measures may be undertaken, but for now, uncertainty looms large over the region’s farming community.