Bushes along a forest road have been cleared to improve visibility at wildlife crossing points in the Kadambur Hills in Erode district, Tamil Nadu, on Wednesday.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
The Forest Department has intensified measures to mitigate human-elephant conflict in villages surrounding the Parabetta Reserve Forest under the Kadambur Forest Range of the Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (STR) by clearing roadside vegetation, installing AI-enabled surveillance cameras and deploying special night patrols.The 1,250-hectare reserve forest is home to more than 15 adult male elephants, and is surrounded by agricultural lands. According to the department, elephants frequently leave the forest at night in search of food and water, crossing forest roads and entering nearby patta lands, damaging crops, property and, at times, causing loss of human lives.As the revenue villages in the range are located around forest areas, wildlife routinely passes through them while moving between habitats. To reduce elephant movement into farmlands, elephant-proof trenches have been dug along vulnerable stretches. However, parts of the trenches have been damaged by streams, rocky terrain and soil erosion. Proposals seeking government funds for restoration have been submitted, and repair works will begin once the funds are sanctioned, officials said.The department has also begun clearing weeds and dense undergrowth along both sides of the forest road, from the 12th Mile, inside the reserve. The work, taken up over the past two days, covers a 1.5-km stretch with several sharp bends to improve visibility for motorists and reduce the risk of collisions with wildlife crossing the road at night.AI-enabled surveillance cameras have been installed at elephant movement corridors, including Iruttipalayam Road-Kilathur Junction, Sigarakuttai, Commander Farm and Sodimaduvu, to monitor elephant movement and identify habitual conflict-causing elephants. The data collected will be used to prepare reports, which will be submitted to senior officials.A special Forest Department patrol team has also been formed to monitor elephant movement, and assist farmers and the public. The team patrols the area daily between 5 p.m. and 6 a.m.The department has issued round-the-clock helpline numbers — 83001 74719 and 86081 74719 — for reporting elephant movement. It has advised the public to avoid using forest roads at night unless absolutely necessary, particularly on two-wheelers, refrain from chasing elephants without the assistance of Forest Department personnel, and avoid venturing alone into areas with dense vegetation after dark.In a release, the department also requested residents and farmers to share CCTV footage from their homes and farms with the range office to help identify elephants involved in repeated conflict incidents. Published - July 22, 2026 06:00 pm IST
