Coimbatore: Wild elephant movement has increased in the Alandurai and Velliangiri hills in the Western Ghats of Coimbatore district. Due to the cultivation of maize, banana, paddy in the villages adjoining the forest, the number of elephants coming to the area in search of food has increased daily. 2 male elephants in separate instances entered the Chemmedu village under the Boluvampatti forest last night.
Coimbatore: Wild elephant movement has increased in the Alandurai and Velliangiri hills in the Western Ghats of Coimbatore district. Due to the cultivation of maize, banana, paddy in the villages adjoining the forest, the number of elephants coming to the area in search of food has increased daily. 2 male elephants in separate instances entered the Chemmedu village under the Boluvampatti forest last night.
Following the information given to the forest department, the forest department chased away the single male elephant into the Mullangadu forest area at 5.30 am today. Another elephant that came with it entered the agricultural land of Durai in the area of Chemmedu lake and has eaten the paddy grown there.
On the way out the elephant was trapped in a high voltage fence that had been put up around the field and died miserably. Following this, the Boluvampatti Forest Department came to the spot and carried out an investigation based on the information given by the passers-by in the morning. First phase of investigation has revealed that the elephant came to eat the paddy as the ripe crops' aroma ready for harvest has attracted the elephant. It was also revealed that the elephant was trapped in a high pressure electric fence while going out after eating. Forest department doctor Sukumar rushed to the place and informed the officials about the same. District Forest Officer Venkatesh said the dead elephant was about 22 years old and further details will be known at the end of the autopsy.
Further investigation by the Forest officers and Electricity Board officials revealed that an iron wire fence had been erected around the farm field and electricity was stolen from the main pole through wires and applied to the iron wire fence.
The owner of the nearby farm said that the owner of the farm, Durai, was in his farm at night. After the elephant died in the fence, the owner removed the wires that supplied electricity to the iron wire fence and absconded. Wildlife case WLOR No. 1/2021 has been registered against him in connection with this incident. An autopsy for the elephant is being arranged now.