Tiger Reserve Construction Sparks Elephant Habitat Fears

Environmental activists have expressed strong reservations regarding the forest department's proposal to construct a new Elephant Conservation and Environmental Centre within the core zone of the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve in The Nilgiris. This ₹35 crore initiative is intended to modernize the historic Theppakadu Elephant Camp, which currently houses 27 elephants.

Conservationists argue that the proposed construction site is a critical pathway for wild elephants crossing the Moyar River, essential for maintaining habitat connectivity. They previously opposed a similar development for mahout families, citing concerns about disrupting elephant movement corridors. Priya Davidar, a conservation biologist, voiced significant unease about construction within a tiger reserve's core area and vital elephant habitat.

Further concerns have been raised that the upgraded facilities aim to attract more tourists. Activists fear this increased footfall will exacerbate the pressures on the tiger reserve, which is already grappling with the impacts of extensive tourism. Landscape ecologist Jean-Philippe Puyravaud emphasized that development should be shifted to buffer zones or outside the reserve entirely, as construction along valleys and rivers can impede genetic flow between elephant populations.

State forest officials maintain that no new facilities will be added and that the camp serves as an educational center, not solely for eco-tourism. They state the upgrades are necessary due to rising visitor numbers. However, conservationist K. Mohanraj disputes the conservation benefits of elephant camps, pointing to ecological impacts such as reduced fodder availability for wild elephants due to feeding camp elephants. He advocates for relocating elephant camps outside tiger reserves to minimize ecological and tourism-related pressures.