Wild elephants move into Karamadai Forest Range three days after ambling in human habitations

After traversing for over 100 km in the last three days in Coimbatore city and the suburbs, the herd of three wild ‘bachelor’ elephants that had strayed out of Periyanaickenpalayam Range on Thursday (December 11, 2025) moved into Karamadai Forest Range on Saturday (December 13, 2025), much to the relief of a large contingent of forest staff on trail.

The elephants that had moved into Keeranatham in the city limits on Thursday were last seen getting close to a hillock at Kurunthamalai after resting at an eucalyptus plantation in Kakkapalayam near Annur for most part of Friday (December 12, 2025).

The Forest Department’s expectation that the elephants could be diverted from Keeranatham to Periyanaickenpalayam Forest Range did not fructify as the animals changed direction towards Annur.

Supported by the Electricity and Police Departments through switching off the power supply along the return path of the elephants and halting vehicular traffic on the roads at the time of crossing, the Forest Department regulated the movement of the animals.

Since chasing the animals would be counterproductive, the aerial distance closer to the forest was factored in for regulating their movement, Forest Department officials said.

But for the damage caused to a compound gate of a private company, the animals did not exhibit any violent behaviour all through while in human habitations.

The elephants were expected to get deeper into the forest during the night hours, official sources added.

Movement of another herd of about eight elephants was reported in the limits of Gudalur Municipality near Periyanaickenpalayam, during the early hours of Saturday. However, the Forest Department could not confirm it.

In an unrelated incident, a 47-year-old Marichamy of Lingapuram who was injured in an attack by a wild elephant on Friday succumbed to injuries at Coimbatore Medical College Hospital.