Two wild elephants broke into a cattle shed near Thondamuthur, Coimbatore, consuming sacks of cattle feed. The incident, captured on CCTV, highlights increasing human-wildlife conflicts in the area.
Coimbatore: In a recent incident near Thondamuthur, Coimbatore district, two wild elephants were caught on camera breaking into a cattle shed and feasting on sacks of cattle feed. The event, which occurred in Gembanur village, has once again brought attention to the increasing human-wildlife conflicts in the region.
The Thondamuthur area, along with Marudamalai and Thadagam, is known for its significant elephant population. These wild animals frequently venture into human settlements in search of food and water, often causing damage to houses, ration shops, agricultural lands, and other properties.
On the night of the incident, the elephants entered the property of a farmer named Kathiravan. They broke open the door of the cattle shed and consumed several sacks of cattle feed that were stored for the livestock. Fortunately, the cattle present in the shed were unharmed during the elephants' visit.
Kathiravan managed to capture the incident on his mobile phone. The video footage, released on July 28, shows the elephants helping themselves to the feed, seemingly unfazed by their surroundings.
Upon receiving information about the incident, the Forest Department officials promptly responded. They arrived at the scene and successfully drove the elephants back into the forest area during the night itself.
This incident serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by both local residents and wildlife in areas bordering forest regions. The Forest Department has been actively working to mitigate such conflicts by setting up various teams to monitor and quickly respond to elephant intrusions into human settlements.
As human settlements continue to expand closer to forest areas, finding a balance between human needs and wildlife conservation remains a pressing issue for the authorities and local communities alike.
The Thondamuthur area, along with Marudamalai and Thadagam, is known for its significant elephant population. These wild animals frequently venture into human settlements in search of food and water, often causing damage to houses, ration shops, agricultural lands, and other properties.
On the night of the incident, the elephants entered the property of a farmer named Kathiravan. They broke open the door of the cattle shed and consumed several sacks of cattle feed that were stored for the livestock. Fortunately, the cattle present in the shed were unharmed during the elephants' visit.
Kathiravan managed to capture the incident on his mobile phone. The video footage, released on July 28, shows the elephants helping themselves to the feed, seemingly unfazed by their surroundings.
Upon receiving information about the incident, the Forest Department officials promptly responded. They arrived at the scene and successfully drove the elephants back into the forest area during the night itself.
This incident serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by both local residents and wildlife in areas bordering forest regions. The Forest Department has been actively working to mitigate such conflicts by setting up various teams to monitor and quickly respond to elephant intrusions into human settlements.
As human settlements continue to expand closer to forest areas, finding a balance between human needs and wildlife conservation remains a pressing issue for the authorities and local communities alike.