Coimbatore: Forest turns graveyard for jumbos

Coimbatore: As water sources in the forest area in Coimbatore district have dried up due to monsoon failure, the forest has turned into a graveyard for wild elephants. Two elephants died in the district for the last one week.

A 20-year-old elephant died due to suspected dehydration at Sirumugai near Mettupalayam, reflecting the severe drought and heat conditions prevailing in the Coimbatore district.  

The elephant strayed near the Lingapuram village near the Sirumugai in search of water. It was found unconscious there. Due to the dehydration, the elephant died on the evening of May 1.

After getting the information, forest officials and doctors’ team were rushed to the spot. However, it could not be saved. According to the data available with the forest officials, Sirumugai range alone witnessed deaths of five elephants in the last one year.

Another baby elephants died after it got stuck in mud in a small pond as it tried to drink water near the Anaikatti on April 27.

“So far 46 elephants have died in Coimbatore, Mudumalai National Park, Sathyamangalam forests in the last three months and the number is increasing every day due to drought. Elephants’ deaths have been on the increase in the forest as water and pasture continue to decline. If it did not rain soon wildlife will be severely affect by drought,” a ground level forest official said.

Due to the monsoon failure, many small ponds inside the forest have dried up. To fulfill wild animals’ drinking water need, the forest department had dug many borewells inside the forest.