Rampaging Wild Tusker: Two 'Kumki' Elephants Called to Action in Tamil Nadu's Nilgiris

Chennai, Dec 23 (NationPress) The Tamil Nadu Forest Department has dispatched two Kumki elephants from the Mudumalai Elephant Camp to deal with a wild tusker that is persistently damaging human habitats in the Nilgiris. This tusker, affectionately referred to as Bullet by the local community, has wreaked havoc across the tea estates of Nilgiris.

A tea estate worker named Mannan R. (45) from Cherambadi recounted his terrifying experience to IANS, stating, “The wild tusker Bullet has caused destruction to several homes in our area. We narrowly avoided an attack last Saturday. The elephant demolished seven houses and forced open the doors of many residences.”

Mannan further mentioned that numerous household items, including televisions, were damaged during the turmoil.

In response to the escalating situation, the forest department has sent two trained Kumki elephants, named Bomman and Srinivasan, to encourage the wild tusker to return to the forest. Five teams from the forest department are actively tracking the elephant's movements with the assistance of drones.

The department is also planning to utilize thermal drones for nighttime surveillance of wild elephants to deter them from encroaching on human settlements.

Authorities believe that these drones will enable forest personnel to observe elephant activity from a safe distance and notify residents well in advance. Alongside thermal drones, forest department vehicles fitted with Bluetooth speakers will broadcast announcements and produce loud noises to guide the elephants back into their natural habitat.

A senior official mentioned that multiple firms have showcased their drone capabilities, and the department is in the process of selecting a vendor. Currently, this technology is being piloted in the Hosur Forest Division, where it has yielded promising outcomes.

Additionally, the department is contemplating the acquisition of AI-enabled cameras to enhance monitoring of elephant movements and mitigate human-animal conflicts.

Conflicts between humans and elephants continue to be a significant concern in Tamil Nadu. Data presented in the Lok Sabha indicates that 256 individuals have lost their lives due to these conflicts over the last five years, with 61 fatalities occurring in 2023-24 alone.

For example, on December 17, a 62-year-old man named Chandran succumbed to injuries inflicted during an elephant assault at the Gajam Mudi Estate in Valparai. This incident, which took place on November 10, also resulted in injuries to four other individuals.

A synchronized elephant census conducted in May 2024, in collaboration with Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh, recorded a total of 3,063 wild elephants in Tamil Nadu. This figure reflects an increase of over 100 elephants compared to the previous census conducted in 2023.

The state’s forest ecosystems can sustain an elephant population ranging from approximately 3,000 to 3,500. Officials have confirmed that the current population is stable and in good health.

The Nilgiri Elephant Reserve and Coimbatore Elephant Reserve boast the highest elephant density among the five reserves within the state. Through the implementation of thermal drones, AI-enabled cameras, and various other strategies, the Forest Department seeks to reduce conflicts between humans and elephants while safeguarding both human and wildlife interests.