Tamil Nadu: First elephant herd from Kerala reaches Anamalai Tiger Reserve early

COIMBATORE: The elephant migration from Kerala to the Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR), which usually starts in August, has begun early this year with the first herd landing in Manambolly forest range on June 25.
Pointing out that the elephant herd was named Monica, a forest officer said the same arrived at Manambolly forest range on last Saturday.
Ganesh Ragunathan, a conservation biologist with the Nature Conservation Foundation, said at least eight elephant herds would migrate to Valparai and Manambolly forest ranges in the ATR every year.“Each herd has a name. The Monica herd is named after the female elephant that led it to the ATR in 2002. We were closely monitoring the herd since then. Elephant Monica died in January 2018.”
M G Ganesan, deputy director, ATR, said the reason for the early migration of the herd was still unclear. “While migrating, elephants usually enter human habitats in search of food. We have formed 24 teams to prevent man-animal conflicts.”
A Manikandan, Manambolly forest range officer who has been closely monitoring the movement of Monica herd for long, said, “The herd usually enters residential areas around 7pm and returns to the forest in two hours. The herd had damaged a few buildings in the past during this period.”
Ragunathan, meanwhile, said more than 120 elephants would migrate to the ATR before December-end. “Some herds will have more than 15 elephants and others fewer than 10. Since all the herds can’t find food at one place, each herd moves separately in search of food. Hence, the animals may venture into human habitations.” He requested the public not to provoke the elephants by bursting crackers or by throwing stones. “Such actions will anger the elephants and could lead to man-animal conflicts.”