KRISHNAGIRI: The incidences of wild elephants straying into villages in the Muthiyala Maduvu area and damaging crops have come down after a 19km-long iron barrier fence was erected along the Tamil Nadu-Karnataka border.Herds of elephants migrate during October and November from Bannerghatta National Park and the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary in Karnataka, passing through Jawalagiri forest and adjoining ranges like Denkanikottai, Noganur, Udedurgam, Sanamavu, Chettipalli and Maharajakadai in Tamil Nadu before reaching Kaundinya wildlife sanctuary in Andhra Pradesh. They return in April and May. During their migration and return, the elephants often stray into villages and damage crops, triggering human-elephant conflicts.Following persistent demands by villagers, the forest department in March 2025 began work on erecting an iron fence stretching from Collector’s Bridge to Zero Point in Muthiyala Maduvu. The project was completed in June this year.Ganesh Reddy, western district secretary of the Tamil Nadu Farmers’ Protection Association, said, “This fence has stopped elephants from entering Tamil Nadu through Jawalagiri and Denkanikottai ranges. Farmers here are finally able to protect their crops without fear.”Local farmer R Kumar of Noganur said, “For years, we had lost our ragi and millet harvests overnight. Now, with the fence, we feel secure. The govt must extend similar protection to Anchetty and other vulnerable forest ranges.”S Lakshmanan of Chettipalli said more fences should be erected at other border points as “elephants will find alternative routes.”Officials said similar protective measures were taken in the Oralparai-Soodalli area where a 6km fence was installed to block elephant entry.However, environmental activists have raised concern about erecting fences as they would block elephants’ traditional migration routes. “Fencing may bring short‑term relief to farmers, but it fragments elephant habitats and blocks their traditional migration routes. This can lead to stress, starvation and increased conflict elsewhere. What we need are eco‑friendly solutions like elephant corridors, not barriers,” said animal activist P Muthu Kumar of Erode.
