A lone wild elephant known as Bahubali suddenly crossed the Mettupalayam-Ooty road last night, causing panic among vehicle drivers. The elephant emerged from Kallaru forest area, where it has been damaging crops for several years. Residents demand monitoring and preventive action.
Coimbatore: A lone wild elephant, popularly known as 'Bahubali', created a stir when it suddenly crossed the Mettupalayam-Ooty road last night, startling motorists and causing temporary traffic disruption in the area.
The massive tusker emerged from the Kallaru forest region and made its way across the busy highway, catching vehicle drivers off guard. Several motorists were forced to halt their vehicles and wait until the elephant safely crossed to the other side of the road.
According to local residents, this particular elephant has been a familiar presence in the region for the past several years. The tusker has earned the nickname 'Bahubali' due to its imposing size and solitary nature. It has been frequently spotted in agricultural areas surrounding the forest, where it has been causing significant crop damage.
Farmers and residents living near the Kallaru forest boundary have expressed growing concern over the elephant's regular movement into human-inhabited areas. They report that the animal has been destroying crops, particularly during harvest seasons, leading to substantial financial losses for local agricultural communities.
In light of this latest incident and the continuing pattern of human-elephant conflict in the area, local residents have submitted a formal request to forest department authorities. They are demanding enhanced monitoring of the elephant's movements and implementation of effective preventive measures to avoid potential accidents and minimize crop damage.
The Mettupalayam-Ooty road is a major thoroughfare connecting the plains with the hill station, and any wildlife crossing poses serious safety risks to commuters, especially during night hours when visibility is poor. Forest officials are expected to increase patrolling in the area and set up warning systems to alert motorists about elephant movements along this stretch.
The massive tusker emerged from the Kallaru forest region and made its way across the busy highway, catching vehicle drivers off guard. Several motorists were forced to halt their vehicles and wait until the elephant safely crossed to the other side of the road.
According to local residents, this particular elephant has been a familiar presence in the region for the past several years. The tusker has earned the nickname 'Bahubali' due to its imposing size and solitary nature. It has been frequently spotted in agricultural areas surrounding the forest, where it has been causing significant crop damage.
Farmers and residents living near the Kallaru forest boundary have expressed growing concern over the elephant's regular movement into human-inhabited areas. They report that the animal has been destroying crops, particularly during harvest seasons, leading to substantial financial losses for local agricultural communities.
In light of this latest incident and the continuing pattern of human-elephant conflict in the area, local residents have submitted a formal request to forest department authorities. They are demanding enhanced monitoring of the elephant's movements and implementation of effective preventive measures to avoid potential accidents and minimize crop damage.
The Mettupalayam-Ooty road is a major thoroughfare connecting the plains with the hill station, and any wildlife crossing poses serious safety risks to commuters, especially during night hours when visibility is poor. Forest officials are expected to increase patrolling in the area and set up warning systems to alert motorists about elephant movements along this stretch.