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An “elephant zone” signboard along the Kotagiri to Mettupalayam road just outside a building that blocks elephant movement along the stretch.
| Photo Credit: Rohan Premkumar
A recent video shared on social media of an elephant attacking and damaging a car along the Kotagiri to Mettupalayam Road could be due to numerous disturbances to elephant habitats, including electric fencing, vehicular traffic and barricades along the highway hindering elephants’ access to habitats in the region, feel conservationists.
The video showed a young tusker destroying a car parked by the side of the road along the stretch near Mel Thattapalam. The tusker is known to have damaged buses along the same route in the past.
A visit to the area shows crucial crossing points for the elephants are hindered by buildings, electric fencing and barricades that have been erected along the Kotagiri slopes, with conservationists stating that these hindrances could be leading to more aggression by the elephants. They state that new buildings coming up along the stretch could further restrict elephant movement.
According to local conservationists, two tuskers use the habitat, apart from multiple herds that pass through the region.
N. Mohanraj, a Nilgiris-based conservationist, said traffic along the route could be provoking the elephants into being more aggressive. “The constant use of horns as well as the growling of the engines when elephants are unable to cross could provoke them into attacking cars,” said Mr. Mohanraj. He added that studies should be conducted as to which habitats are used by elephants along the stretch, so that crossing paths can be facilitated to minimize stress on the animals.
The stretch is also witnessing a boom in the construction of cottages and residential buildings, allege local activists, further pressuring elephants’ habitats. A. Bhoopathy, an environmental activist from Kotagiri said that the stretch between Mel Thattapalam and Kil Thattapalam has a mixture of abandoned tea estates, agricultural fields and forest areas. “While some of the estates are still functional, others are being sold to make way for buildings for residential and commercial purposes. This will lead to more problems for elephants utilizing the area,” said Mr. Bhoopathy, urging the district administration to not give permits for new buildings along the stretch.
He also alleged tourists using the stretch are feeding the elephants while trucks carrying vegetable waste are disposing of it on either side of the road, leading to the elephants becoming habituated to feeding on waste and food offered by tourists or discarded by local communities.
“There has to be stricter regulation of the traffic using the stretch, to ensure that people do not exacerbate problems through feeding or disposing of waste. They should also be sensitized to not stop the vehicles by the side of the road,” added Mr. Bhoopathy.
When contacted, S. Gowtham, District Forest Officer (Nilgiris division), said the incident where the elephant attacked the car was a one-off, caused by a traffic jam due to a separate accident along the stretch. “As the cars had to cue up, the elephant, which was trying to cross the road couldn’t do so, and became aggressive,” he said. Besides, Anti-Depredation Squad (ADS) members have been posted around the clock to ensure that the elephants are not disturbed when trying to cross the road.
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