Tamil Nadu notifies three elephant corridors for cross-border wildlife migration

The Tamil Nadu government has formally notified three elephant corridors spanning over 10,300 hectares in the Cauvery North Wildlife Sanctuary in Hosur Forest Division, enabling trans-Cauvery migration of elephants and other large mammals between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

The notification covers the Jawalagiri-Ulbanda-Thaggatti corridor stretching 18.50 km over 3,241.53 hectares, the Jawalagiri-Panai-Anchetty corridor extending 20.90 km across 6,881.47 hectares, and the Bilikkal-Jawalagiri corridor measuring 2.20 km over 196 hectares. These corridors were identified by two committees constituted by the government pursuant to interim orders of the Madras High Court, with the Palghat Gap as the boundary. The committees had identified 41 corridors in total, including these three in the Cauvery North Wildlife Sanctuary.

Critical Interstate Migration Routes

The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Wildlife Warden stated that these corridors serve as vital connectivity links between the interstate boundary of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Elephants migrate across the boundary in response to monsoonal changes and habitat requirements, and the continued survival and ecological security of the elephant population in this region depend upon the preservation and protection of these corridors, he said.

Entirely Within Protected Areas

The Chief Wildlife Warden stated that all three proposed elephant corridors are situated entirely within reserved forest, with no revenue villages, public lands, or private lands falling within their boundaries. The committee had stated that recognising these three as elephant corridors would not cause any inconvenience to the public, as rights were already settled in the area and there was no need for any new restrictions or guidelines. Although the corridors already enjoyed the highest level of protection within the reserve forest and sanctuary, recognising them as "elephant corridors" would have a positive impact on the conservation value of the region.

Court Directs Notification Before Eviction

When the case came up for hearing on August 31, the government had filed a status report stating that notification of the three corridors was in the final stages of consideration. With respect to the Thally-Bilikkal-Jawalagiri corridor, the status report mentioned that eviction had to be carried out first before the notification was finalised. However, Justice N. Sathishkumar and Justice D. Barathachakaravarthy stated that carrying out eviction was not a precondition for notification, and that issuing the notification first would even enable faster and swifter removal of encroachment. The notification need not await the eviction process, which could be carried out simultaneously, the judges stated.

Source: The Hindu