Only 13 out of 131 elephant deaths in over a year in Tamil Nadu were human-induced, says report

Of the 131 elephants that died, 64 were female, 50 male and 17 unidentified

Out of the 131 elephant deaths recorded between January 1, 2021 and March 15, 2022 across the forest divisions in the State, only 13 or around 10% were human-induced, according to a preliminary data analysis report on elephant deaths.

The report, prepared by J. Peter Prem Chakravarthi, biologist from Anamalai Tiger Reserve, and N. Sridharan, ecologist at Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, was recently submitted to the Forest Department's committee to investigate elephant deaths. As per its findings, 101 elephants were recorded to have died between January 1, 2021 and December 31, 2021 and 30 elephant deaths were recorded from January 1, 2022 to March 15, 2022 across the 17 forest divisions in the State.

While human-induced causes for elephant deaths were electrocution, train and road accident and retaliatory kill, natural causes include multiple injuries, intra-species fight, predator attacks, age factor, hepatitis, worm infection, cirrhosis of liver and malnutrition. Deaths due to anthrax, foot-and-mouth disease, herpes and pulmonary tuberculosis are also considered natural, according to the report.

In 2021, there were five deaths due to electrocution, four due to train hits and one death each due to road accident and retaliatory kill. The remaining 90 elephant mortalities were due to natural causes. As on March 15 in this year, one death due to electrocution and one retaliatory kill were recorded and the remaining 28 deaths were due to natural causes, according to the data.

With 15 elephant deaths, Coimbatore Forest Division topped the list and was followed by Sathyamangalam Forest Division with 12 deaths for the year 2021. As on March 15 in this year, Sathyamangalam Forest Division recorded eight deaths, followed by Pollachi Forest Division with six deaths.

Among the 131 recorded mortalities in 2021 and 2022, 64 were female elephants, 50 were male elephants and 17 were unidentified, according to the report.

The four-member committee was formed on March 31 to investigate deaths of elephants, especially the young ones, across the State and comprised convener I. Anwardeen, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Working Plan) and members C.H. Padma, Working Plan Officer, Vellore; J.R. Samartha, Deputy Conservator of Forests and K. Kalidasan, president of Coimbatore-based NGO Osai.