Why is the TN Forest Dept Increasing Patrolling on the Udumalpet-Munnar Road?

Chennai, May 5 (NationPress) The Tamil Nadu Forest Department has escalated patrolling along the Udumalpet-Munnar route due to frequent sightings of wild elephants wandering near the highway in search of food and water.

Forest officials have issued a warning to tourists and motorists traveling this path, advising them to exercise heightened caution as elephant activity has surged, particularly during the summer months.

The rising temperatures and dwindling water sources have compelled wild animals, especially elephants, to approach human habitats and roadways. Reports indicate that elephant herds are often spotted near the Amaravathi Dam, a favored location for these animals to obtain water. Typically, elephants cross the Udumalpet-Munnar road in the daytime to return to forested areas, reappearing at the dam by nightfall.

Moreover, the surge of tourists journeying from Udumalpet to Munnar has increased significantly during the summer vacation period, heightening the potential for human-animal interactions.

Forest officials have reiterated essential safety protocols, encouraging drivers and tourists to remain calm and avoid abrupt movements or loud noises upon encountering elephants on or near the roadway. They have explicitly prohibited tourists from throwing stones, honking, or using flash photography, as these actions could agitate the animals.

To enhance safety measures, the department plans to implement thermal drones for nighttime monitoring, aiming to effectively track elephant movements and prevent them from encroaching on human settlements.

Officials believe this system will facilitate real-time tracking and provide early alerts for local residents. "Drones will enable us to detect elephant movements even in darkness, with alerts transmitted via forest vehicles equipped with Bluetooth-connected speakers," stated a senior forest officer.

These vehicles will also emit loud noises to guide elephants back into the forest if necessary.

Several companies have already showcased drone operations, and the department is expected to finalize a vendor shortly. This initiative follows the successful implementation of similar systems in the Hosur Forest Division, which have yielded promising results in reducing human-elephant conflicts.

Additionally, the department aims to introduce AI-enabled cameras to further improve surveillance and minimize human-wildlife conflicts. Recent statistics highlight the necessity for such preventive measures. According to data presented in the Lok Sabha, 256 individuals have lost their lives due to human-elephant conflicts in Tamil Nadu over the past five years, with 61 fatalities recorded in 2023-24 alone. The state’s elephant population has steadily increased, with the most recent synchronized census—conducted between May 23 and 25, 2024, alongside Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh—estimating the population at 3,063. This indicates a rise of over 100 elephants compared to the 2023 census.

Officials noted that Tamil Nadu’s forests can sustainably support a population of approximately 3,000 to 3,500 elephants. The Nilgiri Elephant Reserve and the Coimbatore Elephant Reserve maintain the highest densities of elephants among Tamil Nadu’s five designated elephant reserves.

Forest officials are optimistic that the combination of heightened patrolling, technological surveillance, and public cooperation will significantly mitigate negative encounters, ensuring safety for both humans and wildlife.