Chennai– The Tamil Nadu Forest Department has intensified patrols along the Udumalpet-Munnar highway amid a spike in wild elephant sightings near the roadway, prompted by rising temperatures and shrinking water sources.
With herds frequently crossing the highway in search of food and water—particularly around the Amaravathi Dam—officials have issued a safety advisory for tourists and motorists traveling on the route. The warning urges extreme caution, especially during the summer months when elephant activity is more pronounced.
The animals are often spotted near the dam during the day, returning to the forest by nightfall and reappearing in the evening. This predictable pattern, combined with a surge in summer tourism between Udumalpet and Munnar, has heightened the risk of human-elephant encounters.
Tourists and drivers have been urged to follow strict safety protocols, including avoiding sudden movements or noise, refraining from using flash photography, and never attempting to scare or provoke the elephants. Actions such as honking or throwing objects at the animals have been strictly prohibited.
To better monitor elephant activity and reduce the likelihood of conflict, the Forest Department is preparing to deploy thermal drones for night-time surveillance. These drones will enable real-time tracking and allow officials to issue alerts using forest vehicles equipped with Bluetooth-connected speakers.
“If needed, the vehicles will emit sounds to steer elephants away from human-populated areas and back into the forest,” a senior forest official said. Demonstrations from drone vendors are already underway, with a final selection expected soon.
The initiative builds on the success of similar surveillance systems in the Hosur Forest Division, where drone and AI technologies have helped curb human-elephant conflicts. Tamil Nadu officials are now looking to expand this model statewide.
Plans are also in motion to introduce AI-enabled cameras across vulnerable zones to enhance monitoring and minimize human-wildlife interactions. These efforts come in response to sobering statistics: according to data presented in the Lok Sabha, 256 people have died in human-elephant conflicts in Tamil Nadu over the past five years, including 61 fatalities in 2023-24 alone.
The state’s elephant population continues to grow. A synchronized census conducted last May in collaboration with Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh estimated Tamil Nadu’s elephant population at 3,063—an increase of more than 100 from the previous year. Officials say the state’s forests can sustainably support between 3,000 and 3,500 elephants.
Among Tamil Nadu’s five designated elephant reserves, the Nilgiri and Coimbatore Elephant Reserves report the highest densities of the animal.
Forest officials remain optimistic that the combination of increased patrolling, advanced surveillance technologies, and heightened public awareness will reduce conflicts and help protect both human lives and the state’s growing elephant population. (Source: IANS)
