Doddabetta Peak closed for tourists after wild elephant enters reserve forest area near Ooty

Doddabetta Peak closed due to wild elephant sighting, forest department monitoring situation closely for public safety.

Doddabetta Peak, a popular tourist attraction in the Nilgiris has been closed for tourists on Tuesday (May 6, 2025) and the forest department is continuing to monitor a wild elephant that made its way into the Doddabetta Reserve Forest area adjoining Udhagamandalam town on Monday (May 5).

The elephant was spotted in the area by tourists and forest department staff, and also on Monday night along the Kodappamund Road, leading to Doddabetta Peak.

S. Gowtham, Divisional Forest Officer (Nilgiris), told The Hindu that the Doddabetta Peak has been closed for tourists as forest department staff monitor the elephant and hope to guide the animal back into habitats to which it was more acclimatized to. Mr. Gowtham said that the elephant is known to the department to seasonally inhabit the slopes of Coonoor and Kattery.

The forest department tried to drive the elephant away from the area on Monday but were unsuccessful in their efforts. Mr. Gowtham said that 40 forest department personnel were involved in efforts to monitor the animal, with two thermal drones also being used to keep tabs on it.

Veterinarians are also in place as the forest department plans for any exigencies as they continue their efforts to cajole the animal back towards Coonoor, officials stated.

Forest department staff and experts familiar with the elephant said that it is not generally known to be aggressive and that it was frequently spotted near Runnymede Railway Station.