work in full swing despite HC order

Said  K Booopathy, resident near Alandurai, "In spite of the court order, work happens in full swing even after nightfall. Citing the Court order many times, we have asked them to stop - bu they continue. Tens of workers  work reound the clock." 

And an official from Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board denied the allegations. "Only safety measures like closure  of pits and removal of materials were happening," said the official.

- Times of India,   Saturday   August 17, 2019. 

HC stays construction

"We are of the view that whatever has been done in the areas should not be allowed to proceed," - Justice S Manikumar and Justice Subramoniom Prasad.

HC stays slum board project in Vellingiri  
- Times of India,  August 15, 2019 

slum clearance on hill slopes ?

Welliangiri Hills nd Tribals Protection Society has shed light on the drastic damage to the Noyyal catchment landscapes and also movement of wildlife - elephants and leopards - in Boluwampatti reserve forest.

Ten tribals were killed in past 2 years due to similar construction activities in the human-animal conflict zones.

Petitioner sought the court's help to shift the settlement proposal away from elephant corridors.

Tribal forum moves High Court   
Times of India   Chennai    June 25, 2019    Page 5.

Tusker kills at Poondi foothills

A lone tusker killed a pilgrim at the foothills of Poondi, near dawn, on Sunday.

A police officer said," they had ofered prayers at Welliangiri AndavarTemple on Saturday night and had visited Wirakali Amman Temple inside the reserve forest. They collected water from Noyyal and were returning to the foothills when the tusker attacked."

Times of India      Monday   April 15, 2019

President of Federation attends event at reserve forest

There are elephants in the forest behind us.

But it is we who are dominant here.

Because humans use tools and animals do not.

We can learn to use our body, aind and other aspects of our lives, as tools.

- event conductor at forest reserve 

foresters dismantle snares

Indian Anti Snare Combing Force - IASCF- founder Navin Raj N trains volunteers to identify types of snares and dismantle them.

" In December after foresters rescued a tiger from a snare, we decided to hold an anti-snare drive. Accompanied by forest department people, each team will cover about 13 kilometers in search of snares laid by poachers." he said

Times of India      January 25, 2019. 

released at Topslip

Chinna Thambi was captured from Thadagam valley and released into the reserve forest at Varkaliyar in Topslip around 1 am on Saturday 26 January 2019. Forest Department official said the elephant calmly walked into the forest.

- Times Region      January 27, 2019.

little brother

"Banana, jackfruit and papaya are most alluring. Even one fruit, one evening, inside one house was enough to bring him to our village," says Jeyakodi who supplies milk in Kalyanur.

"Thatched houses where grains were stored in sacks and not in sealed containers attracted grain-loving Chinna Thambi ( little brother)," says Teacher Joshua in Anaikatti.

Many houses here have a boundry wall or a window breached by him. Despite all this, villagers talk about him fondly.

- an elephant villagers love and fear.  
Times of India    Jan 24, 2018.

Elephant calf rescued

Farmer Guruswamy heard strange noises the farm well.

Forest ranger Ayub Khan reached spot with 30 personnel. Animal was tired.

Ramp was dug with an earth-mover, and animal was dragged up the ramp by ropes.

It then climbed it's way out and ran into the forest.

Times of India     January 22, 2019. 

Steel wire fence

A steel wire fence 2 kilometers long is set up at Thali and Javalgiri forests in Hosur.

Elephants enter fringe villages here, to raid farms every year.

Another 10 Km stretch will be covered and completed before March31, 2019.


Times of India       January 14, 2019. 

High Court sensitized to invasive species

Invasive species are tje second largest cause for loss of biodiversity, Madras High Court has constituted an expert committee to weed them out from the Western Ghats.

Times of India       January 13, 2019

29,000 acres declared as reserved forest land

State government brought in an amendment to Tamil Nadu Forest Act to facilitate declaration of forest areas under Janmam land , into reserve forests.

A Bill to this effect was introduced in the State assembly on Tuesday and passed.

Times of India    Thursday    January 10, 2019

Back with elephants as mahout

Achuthan's father G Gajendran, 43, was trampled by Masini, the elephant of Samayapuram Mari Amman Temple, Tiruchirapalli, on May 25, last year.  He was her  mahout.

Achuthan has come back to be an assistant mahout.

"Father used to tell me that death is always around in a mahout's job, as none can predict an animal's vagaries," says Achuthan.

Times Of India      January 3,  2019