The expansion of the national highway to Coonoor – Mettupalayam makes it difficult to cross the road. | Photo Credit: M. Satyamoorty
Over the last decade, there have been numerous cases where elephants have set out on the Coonoor Ghat journey in search of food randomly from high cliffs that characterize Escarpment overlooking Kallar Corridor. Conservatory and death experts called for further research of factors that push elephants on the uncertain slopes of Coonoor from their preferred habitats on more flatter terrain.
According to records with the forest department, three elephants died after they suffered falls while they tried to navigate the region in search of food since 2023.
S. Gowtham, a divisional forest officer (Nilgiris), who was asked for the death of elephants in the region, said there were records of the deaths of elephants resulting from falling in Coonoor for more than ten years, but they believe that death is accidental, though still a reason for concern.
“The way up from Burliar of Kallar is very steep for elephants,” said Mr. Gowtham, who said the elephants who set out on the slopes of Coonoor was a relatively recent phenomenon that has become common only in the last few decades.
N. Mohanraj, a conservationist based in Nilgiris, said that the pressure on the traditional stations of the elephants along Kallar Corridor could push herds on the slopes in the search for food, increase the likelihood that animals suffer and die. “Another herd, which has only recently set out on the slopes, is in Geddai after 2010,” he added. It was not uncommon for elephants to die of waterfalls because many such incidents were reported in the western ghats.
However, the frequency of these cases along Coonoor Ghat requires further investigation, stated that he added that increasing human activities, increasing road work, transport transport and elephant disorders used to climb the slopes can push animals into navigation into uncertain terrain, increasing the risk for elephants.
Also, extreme weather events and unpredictable precipitation could play a role in the destabilization of slopes and for traverse animals even more dangerous, Tarsh Thekakaka, a research worker from Nilgiris said. He said that there was an urgent need for the government to invest in the research of patterns and the behavior of the movement of elephants, especially because the animals have adapted to the pressures they face.
“Unforeseeable climate patterns, human disorders and other variables are fundamentally changing the behavior of elephants. More research needs to be carried out to understand how elephants react and adapt their behavior to navigate these challenges,” Mr. Thekaekara said.
Mr. Gowtham said that when the highways along the Coonoor Ghat was a problem, the forest department identified 22 transition points for elephants, and that if necessary, the highway separation was recommended to install ramps to help elephant crossing the road. “We still carefully monitor the movement of elephants in the area, and we also negate any pressures on animals,” he said.
Published – September 2025 20:46
