7 wild jumbos enter town

 A herd of  wild elephants passed through the neighborhood of T G K Nagar at Thoppampatti, Coimbatore. 

Panic as 7 wild elephants enter town 
Times Of India      December 30, 2018

Exclusion of private land from Jumbo Corridor

Nilgiris District Collector was lambasted by the Madras High Court for recommending 'exclusion' of 22.85 acres of elephant corridor - despite being aware that the matter was pending before the Supreme Court and an expert committee had recommended sealing of all private properties on elephant corridor.

"This court is of the view that the view that the district collector has acted in a vested manner for reasons best known to her," said Justice D Krishnakumar.

District Collect excludes private land from jumbo corridor  
Times Of India     - Region -   December 27, 2018. 

Tusker brings other jumbos for village raids

Translocated tusker Winayagan has begun to mingle with a wild herd in Mudumalai.

And his companion Chinna Thambi continues his raid of villages in Thadagam valley -  and often brings a herd along with him.

Tusker raids villages, brings other jumbos,     Times Of India    December 24, 2018

Crop raider captured

Wild tusker Winayagan was darted, captured and shifted to Mudumalai wildlife reserve.

Crop raiding wild tusker captured
- Times Of India      December 19, 2019

20' - level terrain, 30'- steeper terrain?

Madurai bench of Madras High Court has directed the Megamalai wildlife warden, to conduct a joint inspection along with officials of electricity department, in wildlife elephant habitats in Theni district, to identify low slung electric cables, that can cause electrocution.

The warden deposed before the court and said that the department is coordinating with all stakeholders to make corrections.


Court orders joint inspection 
- Times Of India,      December 18, 2018. 

Buffaloes scare Lucky Mani

Lucky Mani, owned by Sukumar of Samayapuram was taken to an ear-piercing ceremony at Wayalur.

On it's way back with it's mahouts, the animal got scared on sighting a few buffaloes. The domesticated elephant fled into an irrigation canal, and got stuck.


Forest officials said they need to pay more attention, to the quality of life, of  domesticated elephants  in the district.

"We will conduct a meeting with all elephant owners, in a couple of days," said a Forest Department official.

 Buffaloes scare domesticated elephant 
- Times Of India        December 16, 2018.

foul play in elephant deaths?

The petitioner clams that the real reason of elephant deaths is poaching and not electrocution.

"By independent study we believe the electrocution story, is just a cover," says the petitioner S Manoj Immanuel.

The petition demands that the investigation be taken over by National Wildlife crime control bureau.

- The News Minute   October 31, 2018

I I Sc - Bengaluru

The Geographical Information System project by teams from the IISc, is under the Aegis of the environment ministry.

"This will help us understand vulnerable elephant corridors and animal conflict flashpoints," says M Semmaran, Divisonal Forest Officer, Bijnor.

- Times Of India, Friday   December 14, 2018

eleventh rejuvenation camp

Annual temple elephant rejuvenation camp is to begin in Thekkampatti, Mettupalayam  from Friday, amidst opposition from farmers.

Times Region, T O I   December 13, 2018. 

23 year old male tusker was electrocuted

The postmortem began at 11 am and went on for 3 hours.
Veterinarians confirmed that electrocution was cause of death.

P Oppili   Times Of India    December 13, 2018. 

Killing fields of wild elephants

5 of the elephants were male, their tusks were found missing -  sawed off by poachers.

On Tuesday, a 23 year old tusker was found dead, with it's tusks removed.

Conservationists requesting anonymity told Times of India that organised poaching gangs roam deep inside the Theni forest division. There is rampant poaching.

T O I, Times Region, December 12, 2018. 

78 elephants in search of food, water

:"Elephants are attracted to ragi and horse-gram and come here during the harvesting season," say forest officials.

About 78 jumbos entered Krishnagiri district reserve forests on Sunday night. And have split into 2 groups in search of food and water.

Times Of India,    Wednesday    December 5, 2018  -  page 9

rescued elephant dies

On Friday, locals and forest officials had a hard time separating the calf, from it's mother.

The little one kept nudging the mother's body from all sides, to awaken it, trumpeting loudly.

It refused to allow officials to take it's mother for autopsy.

Times of India,   November 30, 2018.  

hospital for elephants

Farah  - Mathura:
The vision of the two rescued elephants and their foot injures will be treated at India's first hospital, built exclusively for elephants.

Like with all captive animals, years of abuse has left them with injuries - both physical and psychological.

The new facility set up by NGO Wildlife SOS, in collaboration with Uttar Pradesh forest department, aims to provide medical care to all such rescued elephants.

- Times Of India,    November 17, 2018. 

Calf stands by

For a day and a half, an elephant alf stood by it's mother.
She was stuck in the mud.
She had injured her left fore-leg, a few days ago.
The little one budged only when fores authorities rescued her on Tuesday evening.  .

Elephant stuck in mud
Times Of India   Chennai,  November 28, 2018. page 15
  

autopsy confirms electrocution

Officials conducted post-mortem and confirmed that the jumbos died of electric shock.
Loosely hanging high tension wires carry power to Kayathar from lower camp.
TANGEDCO officials are yet to respond.
One elephant was aged between 7 and 9 years, the other was between 10 and 12 years.

2 elephants electrocuted at Meghamalai forest 
Times Of India   November 28, 2018

Thorny tree species

Elephants were starving at Annamalai Tiger Resreve due to infestation of thorny tree species.

Nattu Karuvel, Odai Vel, Kudai Vela Maram and Seemai Karuvelam - all imported from Africa and America.

They were not food for elephants and wildlife, and they hurt the animals.

- Jumbo crisis in Dindigul district    
Deccan Chronicle   November 4, 2018.

HC directive to wildlife bureau

Madurai bench has directed the Crime Control Bureau under the environment ministry to look into elephant deaths based on a petition alleging conspiracy  behind the deaths - that are being dubbed as by electrocution.

Petitioner con tended that the deaths of 2 elephants in Meghamalai was due to illegal poaching, on which the officials did not take action. Court also sought reports from TANGEDCO and Meghamalai wildlife warden in response to the petition.

Times of India
November 2, 2018.

Buffer zones became patta lands

S Ramakrishnan, Asst. Prof. of wildlife biology and member of Tamilnadu Wildlife Board said,

"Villagers have extended their farm lands right to the boundary of forest areas. Earlier there used to be buffer zones between private and forest land. This helped keep a distance between humans and wildlife. Previously, every village in Nilgiris was flanked by social forests on revenue land, where trees and bushes were planted. In the past 20 years, social forests have vanished in the name of pattas to beneficiaries. Later they became human colonies.  Nilgiris cannot be compared to any other distract. State administration must formulate land-specific, terrain-specific and species- specific policies to address the issue."

Forests must be greener  - South Pole
Shantha Thiagarajan    Times of India,   October 31, 2018

Forester tries to chase way tusker

28 year old Venkatesh was member of  Rapid Response Team of Coimbatore Division.

He fell down while being chased by a tusker and was trampled to death.

Times of India    October 26, 2018. 

Jumbo ravages maize farm near Maruthamalai

After 8 hours of struggle, a wild elephant and it's calf were driven back into the forest.

The wild animals had entered a residential area near the foothills of Marudhamalai in Coimbatore suburb, on Friday night, triggering public panic.

The pachyderm and it's calf entered a residential area  - Pothigai -  and ravaged maize farm.

Ananth Madhivanan Deccan Chronicle,  
Coimbatore - October 13, 2018.  

Elephant electrocuted in Megamalai

 Tangedco had not acted on the Megamalai wildlife division  to raise the height of the high voltage cables that passed through reserve forest areas.

And a  9 year old female elephant was electrocuted in Cumbum range of Theni district when it came in contact with high voltage cables which were allegedly hanging very low.

This incident happened at the same place where another elephant and her calf were electrocuted 2 months ago.

Times of India      September 5, 2018 

jumbo tramples 72 year old woman

A 72 year old woman was trampled to death by an elephant in a tea estate at O' valley  in Gudalur forest  divsion in  udagamandalam  on saturday.

'Sarojini a retired tea estate worker had come out of her house at 6 am to attend nature's call,' said forest range officer Ramakrishnan.  'She suffered serious  injuries on her legs,' he said.

Times of India    Chennai    September 9, 2018

Bees buzz

Guwahati:  Sound of honey bees downloaded from the internet, keep elephants away from railway tracks.

Times of india      May 11, 2018. 

Tree felling stopped in Nilgiris

Shifting of wooden logs is stopped at Forest Gate, Arambi and Butfire reserve forest areas.

Chief Conservator of forests, Deepak Srivastava, indicated that all cut wood logs would go to TANTEA as per the agreement with forest department.

Times of India,      September 10, 2018. 

Trees cut in reserve forest

About 25 eucalyptus trees have chopped off illegally with the connivance of forest officials in 'Forest Gate', 'Arambi', and 'Butfire' forest areas, allege activists. And cut logs could cost over 20 lakhs.

"Logs are removed from the forest overnight. Complaint to the concerned range officer did not work," says an activist.

Times of India,   September 8, 2018. 

48 hours to lock, seal Nilgiris resort

Justice S M Subramaniam pointed out the ACCORD was running a luxury resort deep in a reserve forest, constructed bungalows, where many foreign nationals were holidaying.

Concurring with the State's submission, Justice Subramaniam said, 'All claims of uplifting tribals were only on paper, and placed before the court to circumvent illegalities and escape the clutches of law.'

At stake is 230 acresof prime forest land.

Madras High Court gives 48 hours to lock, seal luxury resort  
Times of India, August 24, 2018. 

notices to 10 more resorts

Of the 39 resorts mentioned as illegal, 27 had been sealed on August 12, as oer the apex court's order.

Remaining 12 resorts were asked on August 9, asked to produce relevant documents.

10 of the 12 were found to be illegal. Remaining 2 have 20 structures, while only 11 have licence.

After 24 hours notice 10 resorts will be sealed as per apex court order.

- Shantha.Thiagarajan@timesgroup.com
Govt issues notices to 10 more resorts in jumbo corridor - Times of India, August 21,  201 2018  - Times Region.

Tourist and commercial operators protest

Organisations began a 3 day protest in Masinagudi after the closure of illegal resorts in the elephant corridor of Moyar valley.

Their demands include proclamation of individual and community rights, amending the present Forest Rights Act 2006.

Commercial establishments, restaurants and shops have shut down, in an act of solidarity.

Closure observed in Masinagudi
Times Of India,    August 15, 2018. 

Sealing on Sunday

The resort complexes have 2 to 27 cottages each, and employ over 200 people.
27 resorts have been issued notices.
Sealing process will begin on Sunday.
"An elephant is a Federal heritage animal. This is how we treat our Federal heritage," Justice Lokur remarked.

- The News Minute

resorts get closure notice

Nilgiris Collector told Times of India, "As per the Court order we are issuing notice to 27 illegal resorts, to enable them to vacate the premises."

In an earlier report submitted to the Court, the collector had said, 821 buildings were identified in the habitat that links Bandipur, the north-eastern slopes of Nilgiris and further down. The report stated that there were 309 resorts of which 39 had restaurant facilities.

Times of India     August 11, 2018

SC cracks whip

Supreme Court on Thursday directed the State to seal 27 resorts within 48 hours. 12 were asked to produce documents.

Earlier Nilgiris Collector told the court that 39 resorts were running illegally.

That 12 have not got approval;  27 have approvals to build residences - but have converted them into resorts.

Times of India     August 10, 2018. 

SC asks for plan of action

Supreme Court on Thursday directed Nilgiris Collector to come out with an action plan about new resorts in the Moyal valley elephant corridor. Madras High Court had passed an order in 2009, seeking a status report on removal of encroachments.

Activist K Mohan Rajam welcomed the Supreme Court direction.
He said the State government must immediately demolish 400 resorts that have come up illegally.
This valley in the Nilagiri Biosphere Reserve holds the single largest population of Asian elephants and tigers, in the world.

Times of India   July 13, 2018. 

resort manager held for elephant death

Ooty:  Manager of a resort in Bokkapuram area, where carcass of an elephant was found, on Thursday, was arrested for not closing a pit in the premises.

Manjunath was arrested on Friday under the Wildlife protection act 1972, for negligence.

The area is known for elephant movements, says S Kalanidhi, District Forest Officer - Northern Division. 

- Times of India   March 24, 2018

transferred for taking appropriate action

District Forest Officer of Tiruvannamalai district B C Archana Kalyani was transferred - after she initiated action on illegal road works in Jawadhu hills.

District Collector K S Kandaswamy wrote to Secretary of Environment and Forests, seeking transfer and departmental action against her, for being a stumbling block for 'development works'.

Strongly worded letter from the Collector created a flutter in a recent meeting chaired by the Forest Minister Dindugul C Srinivasan. The minister questioned the Forest Officer and she defended her actions in the meeting.

Forest officer transfered for acting on illegal laying of roads
Times of India    August 1,  2018

relocation of human settlements

Acquisition of forest corridors and linking territorial paths reserve forests, is stated as a strategy in the State Forest Policy 2018, released by the Chief Minister on Tuesday.

It seeks to protect elephants and other endemic species.

Forest policy 2018 for human relocation.
Times of India July 25, 2018.

Forest patrol

Recently an elephant and it's calf strayed into Thadagam, a human settlement near Coimbatore.
The calf entered a house where a couple were sleeping.
The woman called for help.
A rapid response patrol team of the Forest Department reached in a few minutes.
And drove away the animals with crackers and srens.

Forest response team . . . .
Times of India July 25, 2018.

Drones to hound elephants

Five drones buzzing like honey bees will begin surveillance as virtual guards.

Forest officials hope the noise of the drone engines will drive away wild elephants, from their habitat..

Times of India   July 18 2018.

No records of conviction

At least 125 elephants have died in Tamil Nadu last year - a two-fold jump from 61 documented deaths in 2015-16.

There have been numerous deaths due to electrocution too, in the past few years - and there are no records of conviction in the past decade.

- Times Of India    July 12, 2018 . 

Elephant population plunges by 30%

Jumbo population in Tamilnadu has slumped by 30% in the last five years.

From 4015, the numbers have dropped to 2,761 in 2017, according to Union Environment Ministry;s reply in Lok Sabha .

Times of India  
 December 24, 2017

Database on elephant conservation

A senior wildlife expert has compiled the extent of crop damages, property damages and human casualties due to man- elephant conflict from 1990 till now.

The study is titled 'Database on Elephant Conservation Human- Elephant conflict and Elephant mortality causes' .
The author, B M Arora if former Principal scientist and wildlife in charge of the Indian Veterinary Research Institute. He is now the president of the Association of Indian Zoo  and Wildlife Veterinarians.

The study has been supported by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate change.

350 deaths a year, thousands of hectares damaged in human - animal conflict every year
Times of India 

amendment - a threat to wildlife

 The original Act did not allow sale or transfer of ownership of property demed illegal.
Now, with the amendment, owners can transfer or sell.
And if the District Forest Committee refuses to accept the trnsfer or sale, the owner can appeal.
The amendment will prove a threat to wildlife.

"The amendment will usher in corruption and alienate local communities who depend on the forests. It will compromise their traditional rights," says K Mohan Raj, a conservationist.

- Loopholes in act may legalize forest structures,  Times of (India      July 12, 2018.

April 14, 2018 - wild elephant habitat

82 year old man trampled to death in Poluvampatti forest on the outskirts of Coimbatore, today.

Ramasamy of Nalloor village was near the banks of Noyyal river when he was attacked.

Passers-by saw him lying injured and took him to a hospital, where he was declared, brought dead.

Business Standard
PTI April 14, 2018. 

Sadivayal camp

Forest Department has replaced 2 Kumki elephants from Sadivayal camp.

The tamed elephants are deployed to shoo away wild elephants and to prevent man- animal conflicts.

Deccan Chronicle   Sunday April 1, 2018.

increased relief for man-animal conflicts

Wildlife division of the Union Ministry of Environment and Climate Change has increased ex-gratia relief under Federally sponsored schemes to victims for loss of life or property and crop damage by wild animals.

Down To Earth 
Wednesday, February 28, 2018 

tusker dies of anthrax

The carcass was of a 10 year old tusker - died of anthrax - spotted at Kadambur forest division near Sathyamangalam.
Organ samples have been taken and sent for diagnosis.
Carcass was buried in the forest.
Anthrax virus can be active for more than 30 years - the last case was in May 27, 2016.

Times Region Thursday March 1, 2018.  p.9

Villagers spot starved calf

Forest officials were taking steps to reunite a 3 year old cals with it's mother.

Earlier, it was found to be sick in Eakathur forest, and did not take food or water for some days.

Villagers found the starved calf and alerted forest officials.

T O I 
Saturday Feb. 17, 2018 - p.10

migration at Periyanaickenpalayam range

Ramathal fell unconscious after she was charged and attacked by a wild elephant at Samichettipalayam inear Perinaickenpalayam in Coimbatore, on Wednesday December 13, 2017..

She was rushed to Coimbatore Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared her 'brought dead'.

In a separate incident, Thulasiammal of Kasthuripalayam was attacked by a wild elephant that had strayed into residential areas, in the early hours of Wednesday. She was admitted in CMCH.

Tension prevailed at Thendral Nagar, near Narasimhanaickenpalayam, where a tusker entered residential area in the early hours of wednesday.

Human habitations of Perinaickenpalayam range has been witnessing highest movement of wild elephants after the beginning of the migrating season and maize harvesting.

The Hindu,  December 13, 2017 

dehydrated elephant

Villagers tried to revive the collapsed, dehydrated, 20 year old elephant with water and food.

Elephant did not respond.

Veterinarian team headed by Dr. Manoharan administered vitamin injections and glucose.

"A calf came to the spot where its mother was treated.
It kept pushing the mother and soon the mother elephant rose from the ground," a forest official said.


Times Of India, 11 April 2017.  

Pench Tiger Reserve

The country has lost over 32 tigers in just over 3 months - with one more tigress dead in Saleghat range of  Mansinghdeo Wildlife Sanctuary.


Times of India  19 April 2017

Lesson in co-existence

Water hole at Kallar in Mettupalayam forest range is a sight to behold.

Elephants, gaurs and spotted deer quench their thirst, in orderly manner.

Even as Tamilnadu stares at one of it's worst drought in 144 years.

And internecine clashes between states leave more humans on both sides with little water.

Times of India   Monday 24 April  2017

Nagarhole National Park

Barricades using scrap rails erected by Karnataka forest department to prevent elephants from crossing forest borders.

A male tusker crosses the Nagarahole National Park border on an elevated stretch.

Times of India, Wednesday April 19, 2017

near Bhavanisagar dam

 15 year old female elephant stuck in a mud-pit near Bhavanisagar dam in Erode district, on Friday.
It was rescued by forest officials and villagersafter a four hour effort.

Times of india   Saturday April 22, 2017

Search for new pastures

3 elephants entered the Pannavadi near Mettur dam in search of food and water on Wednesday evening.

Forest officials said the animals have strayed into Mettur for the first time.

Times of India   Friday   April 14, 2017. 

Out on a stroll

Kozhipalam area, Gudalur town:

A jumbo and it's calf were out on a stroll when the baby stepped on the asbestos roof of a house, below road level.

The roof gave away and the calf vanished right in front of the horrified mother. 

"The mother elephant broke open the back door of the house and pulled out it's calf," said a forest official.

Times of India

Friday   April 21,  2017  

Elephant attack

A man was killed and 2 women workers were injured in 2 separate incidents of elephant attack in Gudalur division of forests in the Nilgiris.

The Manjushree estate is spread across 600 acres.
The estate is located adjacent to the reserve forest area in the O'valley range.

Times of India      March 9,   2017

electrocuted elephant

Post mortem reports concluded that the 30 year old male elephant did not die of suffocation - after it fell into an elephant proof trench.

It was electrocuted in Nellidurai area in Mettupalayam forest range - early on Sunday morning.

TOI, Chennai   Monday November 27, 2017. 

drones chase wildlife

Coimbatore forest division has seven ranges - Madukkarai, Boluvampatti, Coimbatore, Periyanaickenpalayam, Karamadai, Mettupalayam and Sirumugai.

Man- animal conflicts are commonly reported in all seven.
Forest department tested  a drone for half an hour at Solakkarai, at madukkarai forest range in March 2017.

And on Friday November 24, plans were announced to use camera drones that buzz and chase elephants in Coimbatore forest range.

T O I,    Saturday   November 25, 2017. 

surprising laxity

'The project will be wrapped up in 2019.
Begun in 2011, it has not realised it's objectives', say forest officials.

The officials have not submitted a mid-term annual review on the progress made.
Japan International Cooperation Agency - JICA - may not sponsor the second phase.

No official info is available on this - there is no transparency.
The laxity may result in 600 officials in the ranks of 'foresters' losing their job.

- TOI, Chennai  - November 24, 2017.