Tenkasi Forest Division Forms 'Friends of Elephants' to Safeguard Crops

As of November 14th, 2025, the Tenkasi Forest Division has proposed the formation of 'Friends of Elephants' teams to address the growing issue of human-wildlife conflict and the invasion of wild animals, particularly elephants, into farmlands near the Western Ghats reserve forests.

According to District Forest Officer R. Raj Mohan, these teams will be created with active community participation, with each group comprising four members: a forest department representative, a local farmer, and two wildlife enthusiasts from the area with extensive knowledge about wildlife. The teams will be deployed in regions where elephants frequently raid crops, with the primary responsibility of safely chasing the crop-raiding elephants back into the forest.

The 'Friends of Elephants' teams will work closely with the Village Forest Committees and be managed by the respective Forest Range Officers. Team members will be tasked with raising drum call alerts or making noise to drive the elephants away and then informing nearby farmers. They will also be paid incentives for their services.

In addition to their elephant-related duties, these teams will also be utilized for controlling forest fires, as per the District Forest Officer.