Forest Department clears garbage to discourage human-elephant interactions in Nilakottai in the Nilgiris

Forest Department clears garbage to discourage human-elephant interactions in Nilakottai in the Nilgiris

Following an incident last week, when an elephant entered Nilakottai town and damaged a building as well as a vehicle, the Forest Department has taken steps to mitigate negative human-animal interactions in the area.

The incident of the elephant damaging houses was recorded on mobile phones and the visuals were shared widely on mobile messaging applications and social media platforms, with residents also staging a protest demanding that the elephant be relocated.

In order to defuse the simmering tensions between local residents and wildlife in the area, the Gudalur forest division held a grievance redressal meeting with the residents, which was attended by the Divisional Forest Officer (Gudalur) Vengatesh Prabhu and Forest Department staff.

Senior Forest Department officials who spoke to The Hindu said that the elephant in question inhabited parts of the Gudalur forest division throughout the year, including the forests in Bitherkad range, which surround Nilakottai town. “The elephant has been seen around Bitherkad for more than 10 years and has never been aggressive towards people. Over the last few years, its habitat and traditional pathways have become encroached upon by human communities. Additionally, people have also been dumping garbage out in the open in the area, which attracts it into the town,” said a Forest Department official.

Following discussions with local communities, a clean-up drive was organised along the pathway that the elephant uses to enter the town, with the Forest Department clearing close to a tonne of garbage as well as invasive species of flora. R. Ravi, Forest Range Officer (Bitherkad), said that they hoped that with the removal of bushes and foliage around the town, that there would be better visibility to ensure that locals can spot any elephants in the immediate surroundings of the town.

He also said that clearing the garbage heap may make it less likely for wildlife to be drawn into the town in search of food. “We are also continuing to monitor the animal from a distance so that people can be alerted if it enters human settlements,” said Mr. Ravi.