The Gudalur forest division has registered a case under the Wildlife Protection Act after three elephants, including a calf, were found dead at Pandalur taluk, suspected to have sustained injuries after biting a country-made explosives hidden inside fruits to target the animals.
The three incidents, which led to the deaths of two adult male elephants and also a calf, occurred in close proximity to one another, and is suspected by the forest department officials to have been targeted at the elephants.
The Gudalur forest division officials said that the department was continuing their investigations into the three incidents and added that a team of officials from Coimbatore had recently come to Gudalur to search for clues to identify the perpetrators of the attacks on the three animals.
“A team from the Forest Protection Squad (Northern Group), came to Gudalur and went to each of the locations where the animals were found dead. They then went to settlements located nearby and tried to ascertain exactly the traps could have been laid for the animals,” a top forest department official said.
Forest department officials said that it will be a difficult task finding the perpetrators of the attacks, but stated that by identifying the exact locations where the traps were laid, could help in better monitoring in the future.
In a bid to prevent a further escalation in conflicts, the forest department has also begun to hold meetings with local villagers and are attempting to resolve any grievances residents may have with regards to the department's strategy to mitigate human-animal conflict.
“We are hopeful that our suggestions to locals to not grow crops that tempt in elephant herds will be heard, and that with constant monitoring of elephant herds in the area by the forest department, further conflicts can be prevented,” said an official, who added that with good rain so far this year, the number of animals venturing close to human habitations in the belt has already seen a sizeable decrease.