In a significant operation to mitigate human-wildlife conflict, personnel from the Krishnagiri Forest Department successfully drove a herd of more than twenty elephants from one reserve forest to another in the early hours of Tuesday. The operation was initiated following persistent complaints from local farmers about crop damage.
Annual Migration Leads to Crop Damage
The herd of elephants had arrived at the Sanamavu reserve forest several weeks prior as part of their annual migratory route from the forests of Karnataka to those in Andhra Pradesh. Their presence near agricultural land prompted farmers to urgently request intervention from the forest authorities to protect their livelihoods.
Traditional Methods Used in Chase Operation
Responding to the farmers' pleas, the forest department team employed traditional deterrent methods to guide the pachyderms away. By beating drums and bursting crackers, they managed to steer the large herd towards the Denkanikottai reserve forest. During the movement, the elephants crossed the Uddanapalli-Kelamangalam road early on Monday. A forest official confirmed that traffic was briefly halted to ensure the safe passage of the animals.
Increased Herd Size Prompts Safety Warning
The relocation has significantly increased the elephant population in the Denkanikottai forest area. With more than 10 elephants already present and the newly arrived herd of 20, the local elephant count has risen substantially. In light of this, the Krishnagiri Forest Department has issued a stern safety advisory to residents of nearby villages.
Villagers have been explicitly warned not to venture near the forest fringes for activities such as grazing cattle or collecting firewood. The department emphasizes the heightened risk due to the larger concentration of elephants and urges the community to exercise extreme caution to avoid potential confrontations.
