Wed Apr 09 20:11:31 UTC 2025: **Tamil Nadu: Elephant Poaching Case Raises Concerns Over Wildlife Protection**

Chennai, April 10, 2025 – The recent poaching of an elephant in Dharmapuri district, Tamil Nadu, has reignited concerns about the ongoing threat of wildlife crime in the state, despite official claims of success in conservation efforts. The incident, which saw the killing and burning of an elephant on February 27th, led to the arrest of G. Senthil, a suspected poacher. However, Senthil’s subsequent death in custody under disputed circumstances – described by officials as an escape attempt, but viewed with suspicion of extrajudicial killing by his family and activists – has prompted a Crime Branch-CID investigation and a High Court-ordered second post-mortem.

While the Forest Department maintains that poaching poses a minimal threat to the elephant population, citing a low percentage of elephant deaths attributed to poaching since 2010 (less than 1% of all deaths and 7.5% of unnatural deaths), conflicting data and reports paint a more complex picture. A 2019 Wildlife Crime Control Bureau report highlighted shortcomings in investigations, including under-reporting and failure to prosecute ivory buyers. A 2022 RTI reply revealed a sharp decline in the elephant population between 2012 and 2017, although the government claims a recovery to over 3,000 elephants in 2024.

The case underscores broader anxieties about wildlife crime in Tamil Nadu. Confirmed instances of tiger poaching by groups from northern India and unresolved leopard poaching cases have further fuelled these concerns. The Forest Department acknowledges the presence of inter-state poaching gangs operating in the Nilgiris district.

Activists argue that while increased surveillance has reduced poaching, structural reforms within the Forest Department are crucial. These reforms should focus on transparent reporting, improved investigation training, and a reduction in the need for coercive methods to obtain confessions. The Dharmapuri incident serves as a stark reminder of the challenges that remain in the fight against wildlife crime in Tamil Nadu.

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