1. Elderly man fatally injured by elephant in Gudalur
2. Senior citizen dies in elephant attack in Gudalur.
Accident – Death – Obituary News :
An unfortunate incident occurred on May 24, 2024, in the early hours of the morning, resulting in the death of an 84-year-old man in a tragic encounter with an elephant. The victim, identified as Palaniyandi, was a resident of Devala in the Pandalur forest range within the Gudalur division.
It was reported that Mr. Palaniyandi had stepped out of his house to attend to nature’s call when he was unexpectedly attacked by a lone elephant that had strayed into the human settlement in search of food. The Divisional Forest Officer (Gudalur Division), Vengatesh Prabhu, revealed that the presence of fruit-bearing jackfruit trees in the vicinity had attracted the elephant towards the village.
Despite the efforts of the forest department, which deploys 12 forest teams for regular patrols in the area to alert residents about elephant movements, this particular male elephant managed to evade detection and entered the village, leading to the tragic incident.
Following the incident, the family of Mr. Palaniyandi was awarded ₹10 lakhs in compensation as a gesture of support in their time of loss. Mr. Prabhu highlighted the need for proactive measures to prevent such human-wildlife conflicts, especially in cases where fruit-bearing trees act as a lure for elephants.
The forest department has observed that the abundance of jackfruit trees near human settlements often leads to elephants straying from their natural habitat in search of food. In response to this issue, they have proposed the lopping of fruits from these trees to reduce the likelihood of negative interactions between humans and elephants in the region.
Conclusion
The tragic death of Mr. Palaniyandi serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of coexistence between humans and wildlife. By taking proactive steps to mitigate potential conflicts, such as managing fruit-bearing trees near human settlements, we can create a safer environment for both humans and elephants to thrive in harmony.
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– Elderly man killed in elephant attack Gudalur
– Elderly man killed elephant attack Gudalur forest.
