Anticipating possible human-wild animal conflicts this summer, the Forest Department on Wednesday issued guidelines to the residents living within the Sirumugai forest range on tackling the presence of elephants.
People living within the Sirumugai forest range were requested to avoid travelling during night hours and asked those who travel at night to remain cautious. Those living near the forest areas in Pethikuttai were warned of the increased movement of elephants and were requested to not carry out agricultural activities near the water catchment areas of Bhavani Sagar dam. They were also asked not to enter the forest areas or travel through the forest roads to avoid human-wildlife conflicts.
In light of recent instances of elephants getting electrocuted, the Forest Department has requested the residents not to directly connect eliminators to wire fences using instruments like Megger without batteries and refrain from directly passing high-voltage electricity through the wire fences.
The residents were also asked to immediately alert the forest officials when an elephant attempts to enter a patta land and were urged to cooperate with the forest workers who attempt to chase the tuskers back to the forests. They were also requested to refrain from any form of torture to the elephants such as throwing stones.
E.N. Manoharan, Sirumugai Forest Range Officer, told The Hindu that the movement of the tuskers are expected during summer as they would frequent the backwater areas of the Bhavani Sagar dam for water. Stressing on the importance of the role of elephants in the forests, Mr. Manoharan said, “Public and members of all departments have the responsibility to preserve the balance in the ecosystem.”