Sun Dec 08 12:24:58 UTC 2024: ## Elephant Creates Panic in Gudalur Town, But Escapes Unharmed
**UDHAGAMANDALAM, December 8, 2024** – A wild elephant caused a stir in Gudalur town early Saturday morning, prompting a brief period of panic among residents. The animal, captured on CCTV and mobile phone footage chasing a goods vehicle, was eventually guided back into the forest by Forest Department officials without causing any injuries.
Divisional Forest Officer (Gudalur), Vengatesh Prabhu, confirmed the incident, stating that the department successfully steered the male elephant back to a safer location. Footage of the incident quickly circulated on social media.
The event highlights the increasing human-animal conflict in the region, attributed to growing elephant populations and human encroachment on their habitat. This follows a Friday meeting between the Gudalur Forest Division, local farmers, and agriculturalists. The meeting focused on preventative measures to reduce negative interactions between humans and elephants, including the use of mobile thermal drones to deter elephants from entering settlements.
The Forest Department also announced that ₹81.15 lakh in compensation has been paid this financial year to residents whose crops were damaged by wild animals.
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