Ooty: K.M. Alwas, secretary of the Nilgiris Adivasi Welfare Association, said that tribals in the hills, especially those living in the jungle hamlets, have an inherent trait in managing the elephant conflict. “Most jungle tribal hamlets are unaffected by wild elephants. Tribals living there know what plants to avoid, what paths to avoid and the seasons they need to be on the alert.
They even watch the declining water sources in the woods and take necessary precautionary measures to check the straying of elephants in search of water. Some tribal experts can smell the presence of elephants in the vicinity,” he pointed out.
Tribal knowledge and wisdom in managing the man-animal conflict, especially, the man-elephant conflict, should be used by foresters, he said and added that foresters should plant more elephant loving plants and fruit trees such as jack fruit deep inside the jungles to check their straying into human settlements.
