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The Hindu
4 days ago
- The Hindu
Three women farm workers injured in sloth bear attack near Puliyangudi in T.N.; residents stage protest
Three farm workers, all women, were injured — one of them seriously — in a sloth bear attack at a farm near the Western Ghats, west of Puliyangudi, in Tenkasi district on Thursday (August 7, 2025) morning. When the group of women were at work in the farm of Esakkiraj, of Puliyangudi, near the foothills of the Western Ghats, at around 9 a.m. on Thursday, a sloth bear, which had entered the farm, reportedly attacked them. While Ramalakshmi, 42, and Palaniammal, 43, sustained injuries, Seihu Ammal, 48, was grievously injured. The women were rescued from the wild animal only after labourers from other parts of the farm, on hearing their screams, charged towards the sloth bear with clubs and stones. While Ms. Ramalakshmi and Ms. Palaniammal were admitted to Puliyangudi Government Hospital, Ms. Seihu Ammal was referred to Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital, after being administered first aid at Puliyangudi. The latter's condition is said to be critical. Condemning the Forest department's 'inaction' to check the invasion of wild animals into farms and their attack on workers, farmers and residents blocked vehicular traffic along the busy Tenkasi-Madurai highway for nearly an hour on Thursday. 'Farmers cultivate coconut, banana, lemon, and vegetables in this region. The invasion of wild animals, especially wild boars, sloth bear, and Indian Gaur, into the farms close to the Western Ghats has become more frequent. Wild boar attacks have, in fact, become a routine affair. Besides suffering crop loss due to crop-raiding wild animals, the farmers and farm workers also suffer serious injuries. The government should install solar electric fence to check the invasion of wild animals and to avert man-animal conflicts,' said Thiruneelam, a farmer from Puliyangudi. After the Police and Revenue department officials pacified the protesters, they agreed to disperse.
Time of India
28-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
When protecting a species means preserving a complex ecosystem
Forest dwellers across India's Western Ghats worship the tiger in various forms. In a sub-tropical country like India, where the tiger is the apex predator, it is likely that tigers became objects of worship because past generations recognised the need to conserve this big cat for its role in the ecosystem. As the top predator, tigers play a crucial role in controlling herbivore populations, thereby maintaining the balance of flora and fauna in the forest. Ecologists have long emphasised that tiger reserves not only protect the big cats but also maintain ecosystem equilibrium, balance other animal populations, and help preserve forests and their water sources. In Goa, the proposed tiger reserve area serves as the catchment basin for the Mandovi, Zuari, Talpona, and Galgibaga rivers, in addition to several streams. 'It is essential to take every possible measure for the conservation of the tiger, the most majestic animal of the Indian wilderness. As the apex predator in the food chain, the extinction of the tiger will inevitably impact all other components of the ecosystem. The forest provides shelter to the tiger, and in return, the tiger protects the forest — in essence, it safeguards the biodiversity within it,' said naturalist Ramesh Zarmekar. A tiger spotted in Tillari valley forest in Maharashtra's Dodamarg corridor which opens into the Mhadei sanctuary forests in Goa The proposed tiger reserve area in Goa comprises semi-evergreen dense forests with steep slopes. The region is a mosaic of woodlands and grasslands and is already known to be a habitat for leopards, Indian Gaur or bison, sloth bears, barking deer, chital, wild dogs, king cobras, and other mammals and reptiles, besides tigers. 'If all coordinates living with the tiger are protected, only then will the ecology be protected. Once you make a tiger reserve, central govt gives more funds for its protection and this will help in protection of the entire 757sq km all Goa's protected areas,' said former range forest officer Prakash Salelkar. According to the Karapurkar Committee appointed by Goa govt, all the proposed tiger reserve areas are among the richest reservoirs of biodiversity in the world. The forest areas are part of regions identified as the second best in India and the eighth best in the world as the finest tiger habitats. More recently, the role of tiger landscapes to mitigate climate change has also been identified. 'They store more carbon than any other forest type,' said a forest official.
The Hindu
28-07-2025
- The Hindu
Trekkers fined for entering ‘protected forest area' in Dindigul district
Twenty-nine people from Chennai, Coimbatore, Erode, Tirupur and other places in Tamil Nadu have been fined for illegal trek and trespass, among other offences, into the protected forest area in Kannivadi (block I) at Athur Taluk in Reddiarchatram union in Dindigul district. Forest officials Kumaresan, Thilagaraja and others were on surveillance duty in Kaapukaadu area in Kannivadi forest, when they spotted a group of people on a trekking expedition. After inquiry, they imposed a fine of ₹4,500 on each person. It came to light that the trekkers were promised a day's trip for a distance of about 7 to 10 km inside the forest. A senior officer said that two persons from Chennai and Erode were responsible for organising the trip. It was an offence to enter a protected area and further investigation was on into the incident. The officials said that there were a large number of Indian Gaur, elephants and bison inside Kannivadi reserve forest and, occasionally, the wild animals entered human habitations in search of water.
New Indian Express
24-04-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
Five killed, 28 injured in Indian Gaur attacks in Kodaikanal over five years, says forest department
DINDIGUL: Responding to an RTI query filed by TNIE , officials from the forest department said that five people were killed and 28 people were injured in Indian Gaur attack in Kodaikanal for the past five years (2020-24). A compensation of Rs 56.17 lakh was also offered for various animal attacks. They added that in the last five years, five people were killed and 28 people were injured by Indian gaurs, one person was killed and 16 were injured inwild boars attack, two people were killed and one person was injured in an elephant attack and the Kodaikanal Forest Division provided a solatioum of Rs 56,17,500 to the victims. P Chelladurai, Kodaikanal Municipality chairman, told TNIE, 'Among all the animals, Indian gaur is a serious menace in Kodaikanal. We can see these animals in all parts of the town, and they have started eating domestic food waste. Since these animals are large and strong, no one can stop them during an attack.' S Rajkumar, a trader, said, '15 years ago, Indian gaurs were rare, and we had to go near Berijam Lake to see them. However, over time, their population has increased, and we believe this is due to the large availability of grasslands. After a period of time, they started moving towards farmlands in hill slopes. Later, they started entering residential settlements. If these animals are transported to deeper forests, we can avoid animal attacks and death in Kodaikanal.' An official from the forest department said, 'Indian gaurs are very strong animals. A single male could weigh more than 800 kilograms. Sometimes they grow more than 1,200 kilograms. Hence, due to its sheer size and aggressiveness, it cannot be tamed or captured. Translocating these animals is highly risky. Besides, as most of the villages are surrounded by forest areas, it is very common to see such animals move near farmlands.'
