Forest Department ups vigil as more elephants use Coimbatore forests for migration

The Forest Department has stepped up vigil across its seven ranges in the Coimbatore Forest Division as the number of elephants using the wilderness has gone up due to the annual migration.

Elephants of the visiting herds that have come from the Kerala side have already started entering villages causing damages to crops, as they traverse towards Sirumugai and Sathyamangalam.

Officials say the annual movement is critical for the long term survival of the species, helping in genetic exchange between Nilambur – Silent Valley – Coimbatore elephant population range and Brahmagiri – Nilgiris – Eastern Ghats population range.

“Additional teams have been constituted in ranges that are witnessing regular movement of elephants in villages bordering forests,” said District Forest Officer N. Jayaraj.

He said frontline staff have been put on high alert in ranges such as Sirumugai, Periyanaickenpalayam, Karamadai, Boluvampatti and Coimbatore ranges, where incidents of elephants entering villages are on the rise, when compared with previous months.