Residents of a Coimbatore neighbourhood faced a terrifying encounter on Sunday when a wild tusker breached their residential area, scaling a compound wall and causing panic. The incident in Madukkarai highlights the ongoing challenge of human-elephant conflict in the region, coinciding with a separate event involving a large herd in neighbouring Krishnagiri district.
Coimbatore Tusker's Residential Foray
The solitary male elephant emerged from the Madukkarai reserve forest range and entered Gandhi Nagar, a residential colony located merely 20 metres from the forest boundary. In a startling display, the animal climbed over the wall of a house owned by a resident named Sindhu. Once inside the compound, it fed on a plantain tree and consumed leaves from a coconut tree.
Sindhu captured the entire incident on video, and the footage quickly spread across social media platforms, amplifying local concerns. After raiding the property, the elephant left but then chased a man who was standing in front of his nearby house, escalating the fear among the community.
Forest Department's Response and Warnings
Forest officials confirmed that the tusker eventually returned to the reserve forest on its own. However, the department has heightened vigilance in the area. Night patrol teams have been instructed to be more alert to prevent further conflicts. Authorities have also issued a clear advisory, urging residents not to venture outside their homes during late evening and early morning hours, when such movements are more likely.
A forest officer stated, "The tusker later returned to the reserve forest on its own. However, we have instructed our night patrol teams to be more vigilant to prevent potential human-elephant conflict."
Krishnagiri Herd Movement Adds to Concerns
In a related development in Krishnagiri district, forest officials managed to drive a herd of more than 25 elephants from the Hosur region towards forest areas in Karnataka on Sunday night. By Monday morning, the herd was sighted in the Irulapatty forest area.
However, the operation encountered a complication: six elephants broke away from the main group and halted in an agricultural field near Bommadathanur village. The forest department is actively working to redirect these straying animals back to the forest and has sternly warned the public against approaching them.
This incident follows a similar pattern from just last week, when over 30 elephants were driven into the Jawalagiri forest from areas including Hosur, Rayakottai, and Denkanikottai, indicating persistent elephant movement in these border districts.
