A grocery shop that was recently damaged by a wild elephant at Velipilam Modhiramalai in Kanniyakumari district.
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGMENT
Residents in ‘kaani’ tribal hamlets in Kanniyakumari district have raised concern over the frequent intrusion of wild elephants into their habitations in the recent months.The movement of wild elephants from Neyyar to reserved forest areas of Kanniyakumari district have led to repeated encounters between the animals and the residents. A few days ago, a pachyderm damaged a grocery shop in Velipilam Modhiramalai and a security shed at a plantation in Koduthuraimalai was damaged a couple of months ago.The elephants have also been frequently spotted near tribal hamlets Modhiramalai, Velipilam Modhiramalai, Kolonjimadam Modhiramalai and Thatchamalai and villages located along foothills such Penu and Arukani.Sounder Raj, a resident of Velipilam Modhiramalai, said that the sightings of wild elephants near the tribal habitations in western ghats had increased compared to past few years. He added as these pachyderms are highly attracted to the smell of sweet food items , often venturing into the settlements in search of food. Referring to the incident at a grocery shop, he said the animals had damaged the shop while attempting to reach palm jaggery stored inside.However, forest department officials have advised the residents not to venture outdoors during the night and have been providing compensation for damage caused to houses and shops.Speaking on this, Kanniyakumari District Forest Officer A. Anbu said that the elephants’ movement appeared to be normal for this season, as they were attracted to fruits like jackfruit and banana that are commonly found near human settlements.He added that this year’s scanty rainfall had also influenced the movement of elephants through these areas, as these hamlets are located around the upper reaches of Pechiparai dam.“Special teams have been formed to monitor the movement of elephants, which appears to be normal for this season. Timely compensation is being provided to tribal residents in cases of crop or property damage,” Mr. Anbu said. Published - July 23, 2026 08:54 pm IST
