13 Elephants Have Died In Tamil Nadu In A Month, Six Of Them Were Electrocuted
On Monday, April 10, an adult male wild elephant was found dead in Tamil Nadu's Tenkasi district after it came into contact with an illegal electric fence, making it the sixth such case in the state in a month.
The elephant was found dead on a farm in the Sivagiri forest range, following which the land owner was arrested under Wildlife Protection Act.
Killed by illegal electric fence
According to the Forest Department, the land owner, identified as Karuppaiah, had erected illegal electrical fences to save crops from wild animals.
The fence was connected to a live wire, which killed the elephant instantly after the tusker came into contact with it.
Sixth electrocution since March
This was the 13th unnatural elephant death reported in the state within one month; six of them had died of electrocution.
On March 7, three female?elephants were electrocuted?at Kali Kavindar Kottai in Dharmapuri district after they came in contact with an illegal electric fence erected by a local farmer to keep wild boars away.
On March 18, a wild tusker was killed in Dharmapuri after it touched a low-lying electric line electrocuting it instantly.?
On March 25, another wild tusker was electrocuted near Kuruvamma temple, Periyanaickenpalayam, in the Coimbatore district.
The incident occurred when the elephant rubbed its body against an electric post that fell on him along with an overhead live power line near the Periyanickenpalayam forest range, leading to its on-the-spot death.
Electric fences become death trap
Illegal electric fences erected by farmers in the farms close to forests have long been a deathtrap to wildlife, including elephants.
Instead of controlled electricity being passed through fences, which deter the wild animals from entering the farmland, these illegal fences are connected to live wires, leading to high-voltage being passed through these fences leading to the death of the animals.
"The forest department must have a proper road map to prevent elephants foraying near the human habitats getting electric shocks and dying," R Swaminathan, Director, Wild Life study centre, Salem, said.
High Court demands action?
Last month the Madras High Court had asked the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (Tangedco) why low-lying power lines were not removed even after court orders.?
"There has to be a detailed study on these matters, and Tangedco must be directed to remove all the low electric lines that could lead to elephants getting in touch with them when they raise the trunks leading to immediate deaths. A bit of caution from the government departments can prevent deaths of wildlife," Swaminathan said.
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