ANAIKATI NORTH- ANAIKATI SOUTH ELEPHANT CORRIDOR - ENVIRONMENT
News: Elephant
habitat at Anaikatti along Tamil Nadu-Kerala boundary faces threat
What's in the news?
● The
scenic forested stretch of Anaikatti, near Tamil
Nadu’s boundary with Kerala, may now be on the bucket list for vloggers and
riders from both States, but for generations before them, it has been part of a
highway for the gentle giants of the Western
Ghats, the YAANAI (elephants) who inspire the name of the hills they walk.
● The
unchecked growth of resorts and farmhouses in the area, however, is threatening
their right to the forest road, and pushing the elephants into dangerous
confrontations with villagers.
Key takeaways:
● The
WTI study, published in 2017, had mentioned existing threats to the corridor in
the form of vehicular traffic and
several institutions in the area, including the government’s own Salim Ali
Centre for Ornithology and Natural History.
● The
local conservationists point out that development activities, especially in the
hospitality sector, have also been one of the reasons for the threat of the
Elephant corridor in the area.
Elephant Corridor:
● Elephant
corridors are narrow strips of land that connect two large habitats of
elephants.
● Elephant
corridors have been identified with the help of The Elephant Task Force Report, 2010 “Gajah” and State Forest Departments
of elephant range states.
Recognized by:
● Wildlife Trust of India
under the National Elephant Corridor Project.
Stats of Elephant Corridors:
● Around
101 elephant corridors have been
identified by the wildlife trust of India under the National elephant Corridor
project.
○ 20
are in South India
○ 12
in North-western India
○ 20
in Central India
○ 14
in Northern West Bengal, and
○ 22
in North-eastern India.
Threats:
● The
all-round development like human
settlements, roads, railway line, electric lines, canal and mining are the main
cause of corridor fragmentation.
Significance:
● They
are crucial to reduce animal fatalities due to accidents and other reasons.
● Fragmentation
of forests makes it all the more important to preserve migratory corridors.
● This
movement of Elephants helps in enhancing the species survival and birth rate.
Further Reference: Elephants