Even as complaints relating to wild animals straying into human habitations and posing a threat to life and property is mounting in various parts of the district. particularly Gudalur, Pandhalur and their surroundings, the forest department has expressed the view that if the people extend their cooperation it would be easier for them to deal with the man-wild animal conflict. Villages Speaking to The Hindu here on Wednesday. forest officials pointed out that the main reason for the wild animals straying out of their habitat and moving close to the villages was the easy availability of food items, which they relish. Pointing out that among the main attractions for elephants in places like Pandhalur and Geddhai was bananas, they said that in Kollacombai and surroundings bears were finding the local pears hard to resist. Stating that it had not only resulted in crop loss but also hit normal life in those areas, they said that in Pandhalur an appeal had been made to the people to avoid cultivating crops which attract wild animals. Awareness programmes had also been conducted in places like Ayyankolli. Distributed In handbills distributed to the public they had been asked to carry flashlights while venturing out after dusk and not walk alone through tea gardens at night. As far as possible crops like banana, jack fruit, coconut and sugarcane should not be cultivated near the houses located close to forests. People should also exercise caution while sending their children to schools. Referring to instances of carcasses of cattle killed by wild animals being poisoned to take revenge, the officials said that it was not a solution to the problem. They added that the best way of checking escalation of man-wild animal conflict was preventing fragmentation of habitat.