Tragic Death of Man Due to Elephant Attack in Tamil Nadu
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Synopsis
A tragic incident in Tamil Nadu resulted in the death of a 37-year-old man, Jamshed, who was trampled by a wild elephant while trying to drive it away from crops. The local community is now demanding better protection measures against wildlife conflicts.
Key Takeaways
- Man killed by wild elephant in Tamil Nadu.
- Local leader Jamshed was attempting to protect crops.
- Trench built by forest department was inadequate.
- Fatalities due to human-animal conflicts rising.
- Political parties demand action against wildlife threats.
Chennai, Jan 25 (NationPress) In a heartbreaking incident, a 37-year-old man was tragically trampled to death by an elephant in Gudalur, situated in the Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu on Saturday.
The victim has been identified as Jamshed (37), who was a local Youth Congress leader.
According to TM Younis Babu, a Congress leader and vice chairman of the Third Division Panchayat, Jamshed had returned to his hometown from Bengaluru when this unfortunate event took place.
Local inhabitants stated that Jamshed leaves behind his wife and three children.
Younis Babu, while communicating with IANS, mentioned, "Jamshed and several locals had rushed to drive away the elephant that had intruded into the area and was damaging crops, including plantains. They attempted to frighten the animal using firecrackers and loud noises, but the elephant unexpectedly turned and trampled Jamshed to death."
Residents reported that the Tamil Nadu Forest Department had constructed a trench measuring five kilometres to deter wild elephants and other wildlife from entering the Third Division Panchayat.
Nevertheless, the trench requires an extension of another three kilometres. The elephant allegedly accessed the village through this unprotected stretch, culminating in the deadly encounter.
As per local accounts, at least 20 individuals have perished in the last five years in the Gudalur area due to conflicts between humans and wildlife.
Officials from the Tamil Nadu Forest Department confirmed the occurrence and announced that the state government would offer immediate financial aid of Rs 10 lakh to the deceased's family.
The Gudalur region is part of the Nilgiris Lok Sabha constituency, represented by DMK Deputy General Secretary and former Union Minister, A. Raja.
Younis Babu further stated that political factions in the Gudalur region have been advocating for robust measures to safeguard individuals from wild animal assaults.
He also noted that residents and all political parties, except the DMK, were organizing a protest march to demand action against the persistent attacks in the Third Division Panchayat.
According to data shared in Parliament by the Union Ministry of Environment, 256 people lost their lives in Tamil Nadu due to human-animal conflicts between 2019 and 2024.
The year 2023-24 recorded the highest fatalities, with 629 deaths, followed by 605 in 2022-23. Habitat loss and fragmentation are identified as significant causes of human-elephant conflicts in India, which is home to 60 percent of the global elephant population.
Elephants hold the designation of a National Heritage Animal in India.
The nation boasts the largest population of Asian elephants, with nearly 30,000 wild elephants and around 3,600 in captivity.
