Thursday, Oct 07, 2010
http://www.hindu.com/2010/10/07/stories/2010100751310500.htm
Udhagamandalam: With the man-wild animal conflict escalating in various parts of the Nilgiris, the flow of SOSs to forest officials from affected people and wake-up calls from green activists have also gone up.
Responding to a call from the people residing in Kodhumudi and surroundings, near the Ebbanad reserve forest, a team of forest officials from the Nilgiris North Forest Division, led by Ranger P. Premkumar, landed there on Wednesday to deal with the tusker which had strayed into the area a few days ago.
Pointing out that the pachyderm, aged about five, which had got separated from its herd was spotted near Chinna Coonoor beyond Kodhumudi about a month ago, Mr. Premkumar told ‘The Hindu' that after remaining out of sight for the past few weeks it had re-emerged near Kodhumudi.
Stating that it had not harmed anyone or raided agricultural fields, he said efforts were being made to chase it into the Siriyur forest with the help of crackers and drums.
As a measure of precaution, the people of Kodhumudi and adjoining areas had been told to exercise caution while moving about.
He added that forest staff had been posted in the area to keep an eye on the animal.
Expressing the hope that the forest officials would move the elephant out of the area before something unfortunate happens, some of the villagers said that its presence had affected their routine.
Meanwhile, green activists expressed concern over the development and said that elephants were straying into human habitations because their corridors had been blocked by development-related activities.The green activists hoped that appropriate steps would be taken to reduce man-wildlife conflict.
