Forest Department proposes more watch towers for elephants’ safety
The Hindu
Other measures include foot patrols and use of drones
The Forest Department has proposed to intall more watch towers in forest areas on the sides of the two railway lines that connect Kerala and Tamil Nadu via Walayar, for the safety of elephants.
Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Wildlife Warden Shekhar Kumar Niraj instructed T.K. Ashok Kumar, District Forest Officer of Coimbatore Forest Division, to initiate work on setting up watch towers at the earliest after identifying a suitable location to monitor elephant movement.
Mr. Niraj on Monday visited the railway lines that connect Kanjikode in Kerala and Ettimadai in Tamil Nadu, near Walayar where a Chennai-bound train knocked down three elephants, including a pregnant one, on Friday night. He also instructed the DFO to initiate foot patrols on the two railway lines to drive away elephants that come to the tracks and agricultural fields.