Fear grips Thalavadi Hills amid rising human-elephant conflict

Rising human-elephant conflicts in Thalavadi Hills instill fear among farmers, following fatal attacks and crop destruction incidents.

Persistent human-elephant encounters in fringe villages of the Thalavadi Hills have created fear among residents, as repeated incidents of crop destruction and fatalities have compelled farmers to stay on alert during the harvesting period.

Maize, millets, pulses, and other crops are extensively grown in the area during the current season. Villages in the Bynapuram, Mallankuzhi, and Diginarai panchayats, situated near the Jeerahalli and Thalavadi forest ranges, have been facing regular crop forays by wild elephants.

In the early hours of Sunday (February 8, 2026), Mahesh, 28, of Karalavadi village was trampled to death by a herd of elephants while attempting, along with other farmers, to drive them away from agricultural fields. The incident led to protests, with villagers blocking the removal of the body for post-mortem examination for more than six hours.

Yogesh Kumar Garg, Deputy Director of the Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (STR) and District Forest Officer, Hasanur Division, held discussions with the protesters led by S. Kannaiyan, president of the Thalavadi Farmers’ Association. Farmers pressed for the installation of rail fencing, strengthening and upkeep of elephant-proof trenches (EPTs), enhancement of compensation for death caused by wild animal attacks to ₹20 lakh, and reinforcement of early warning mechanisms. A compensation of ₹10 lakh was disbursed to the victim’s family, after which the protest was called off.

In recent years, six farmers have died in elephant attacks in the hill region, largely because cultivators are compelled to guard their fields during night hours. “Between November and February every year, we are completely deprived of sleep,” a farmer from Diginarai said.

Elaborating on the issue, Mr. Kannaiyan said Joraikadu is a fragmented forest stretch covering about 550 hectares and separated from the main forest, with three village panchayats surrounding it. Elephants take refuge there during the daytime owing to the availability of water sources and venture into farmlands at night, he said, calling for the area to be made inaccessible to elephants.