Forest Department seeks HR&CE to keep Poondi temple surroundings free of food waste

Forest Department urges Vellingiri Andavar temple to improve safety measures and keep surroundings free of food waste to prevent elephant encounters.

In view of the recurring instances of a wild elephant entering the premises of the Vellingiri Andavar temple at Poondi, the Forest Department has requested the temple administration to improve safety measures and to keep the surroundings free of food waste dumped by devotees.

A male wild elephant has been frequenting the temple premises located inside the reserve forest area, often targeting shops that sell snacks and a store room, where provisions for annadanam are kept.

Though the adult tusker has not attacked any humans on the temple premises, the Forest Department has sought HR and CE Department to improve safety measures in order to avoid possible close encounters with the animal that often emerges from the forest.

“As it is Sabarimala pilgrimage season, several devotees from Tamil Nadu and other States include a visit to Poondi temple in their itinerary. It has been noted that pilgrims are throwing food waste around temple premises and this will attract wild animals, including elephants. The Department has requested the Executive Officer of the HR&CE to keep the surroundings free of food waste,” said T. Suseendranath, forest range officer, Boluvampatty.

The temple at the Vellingiri foothills is situated on about nine acres of land that is surrounded by reserve forest areas of Moolangadu beat of Boluvampatti forest range. The entry point starts at the forest boundary at Iruttuppallam.

After the de-reservation of the forest land and construction and consecration of the present temple decades ago, the area came under the control of the HR&CE.

According to the Forest Department, preventing wild elephants from entering the compound was not possible since the temple is situated in the midst of the forest.