Nature lovers and social activists laud Govt. officials for identifying and recovering elephant corridors
Coimbatore: Social activists are overjoyed that Government officials have been proactive in locating and restoring elephant corridors as ordered by the Court.
Both the Valparai and Manampalli wildlife sanctuaries which are under the control of the Anaimalai Tiger Reserve are home to a large number of elephants. In Valparai, several elephant corridors have been converted to tea plantations and luxury hotels have sprung up right along the elephant corridor to accommodate tourism.
A petition was filed in the Chennai High Court last year and judges who heard the petition observed that Coimbatore district had many elephant corridors. When elephants find their customary route blocked, they change direction toward residential areas. So, the Court ruled that the Forest Department should take action to locate and restore elephant corridors. Based on the court ruling, nature lovers demanded that the Forest Department ought to take immediate action to restore the elephant corridor in Valparai.
Last week, a decision was taken at a meeting chaired by the District Collector on restoring the elephant corridor. The decision by the authorities has made nature lovers and social activists happy. Forest officials revealed that at the consultation meeting chaired by the Collector, it was advised that the elephants should be allowed freedom to move about and restored back to the forest terrain. Officials opine that If elephant corridors are maintained diligently, a permanent solution to the wildlife-human conflict in Valparai can be found.
Both the Valparai and Manampalli wildlife sanctuaries which are under the control of the Anaimalai Tiger Reserve are home to a large number of elephants. In Valparai, several elephant corridors have been converted to tea plantations and luxury hotels have sprung up right along the elephant corridor to accommodate tourism.
A petition was filed in the Chennai High Court last year and judges who heard the petition observed that Coimbatore district had many elephant corridors. When elephants find their customary route blocked, they change direction toward residential areas. So, the Court ruled that the Forest Department should take action to locate and restore elephant corridors. Based on the court ruling, nature lovers demanded that the Forest Department ought to take immediate action to restore the elephant corridor in Valparai.
Last week, a decision was taken at a meeting chaired by the District Collector on restoring the elephant corridor. The decision by the authorities has made nature lovers and social activists happy. Forest officials revealed that at the consultation meeting chaired by the Collector, it was advised that the elephants should be allowed freedom to move about and restored back to the forest terrain. Officials opine that If elephant corridors are maintained diligently, a permanent solution to the wildlife-human conflict in Valparai can be found.