Frequent elephant deaths in STR worry wildlife enthusiasts

On Saturday a female elephant was found soaking in a water body with crocodile bite injuries in its abdomen. The elephant could have drowned to death due to some other reason and then mauled by crocodiles, informed wildlife sources told DT Next.

Though the Bhavani river and Moyar river that runs between Nilgiris and Sathyamangalam is infested with crocodiles there is no clear history of elephants being killed by crocodile attacks. We suspect the death due to some impact and the vital organs have been harvested for autopsy.

Last month a 25-year-old female elephant was also found dead at Kadambur ForestRange in Sathyamangalam Division. The autopsy report revealed ulceration, a forest official said. Two months before an elephant carcass was also recovered at Ponaikadu in Anaikarai beat of Sathyamangalam tiger reserve, the official noted.

“There is a need for immediate attention to study the elephant deaths and the ongoing study on elephant deaths should bring scientific solutions for the man-animal conflicts,” K Brinda, conservation scientist, Biodiversity Conservation Foundation. Meanwhile, the forest officers have also intensified the patrol in protected areas and are reaching out to villagers in forest areas with the elephant population.

“Gudalur forest division has one of the highest man-animal conflict numbers and there is frequent movement of elephants in this region. During November and December, the villagers often ignore the presence of elephants due to mist in hilly terrains. This is one of the reasons for higher man-animal conflict in Mudumalai, Anamalai and Satthyamangalam tiger reserves.

The anti-poaching watchers are now visiting the tea estates warning the estate workers to be careful with the stray wildlife. They are also been advised to carry a torch and wear shoes so that they can also protect themselves from the snake bites, the official said.