Sun Nov 03 01:56:37 UTC 2024: ## Farmers in Talavadi Hills Demand Action Against Human-Wildlife Conflict
**Talavadi, Tamil Nadu (November 03, 2024):** Farmers in the Talavadi Hills have urged the Forest Department to take immediate action to address the escalating human-wildlife conflict in the region. The farmers, who reside in villages near the Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (STR) boundary, have reported significant crop damage and even loss of life due to elephant raids.
The farmers claim that existing elephant-proof trenches are either ineffective or poorly maintained. They have called for the installation of rail track fences, similar to those implemented successfully in the Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple Tiger Reserve (BRT) in Karnataka, to prevent elephants from entering farmlands. Additionally, they have requested the Karnataka Forest Department to install such fences in the Talavadi and Ramapuram areas, which border the BRT.
Other demands include the installation of underground electric cable lines in specific areas, the unrestricted use of the Kuliyada-Dhimbam Ghat road for residents of certain villages, and the permission to perform pujas in temples within the forest without restrictions. The farmers have also demanded a compensation of ₹15 lakh for families of those killed in wildlife conflict, a government job for the widow of Raman of Mudiyanur who was trampled to death by an elephant in December 2023, and 24-hour access to the Dhimbam Ghat Road for farmers in the hill area.
To emphasize their demands, farmers, trade associations, and other organizations will gather at the Tahsildar office in Talavadi on October 5th. They are hopeful that the government will respond positively to their concerns and implement effective solutions to mitigate the ongoing human-wildlife conflict.
First Piper 