Sun May 04 18:43:59 UTC 2025: ## Trained Elephant Prevents Wild Elephant Incursions at Temple
**COIMBATORE, INDIA (May 5, 2025)** – The deployment of a trained elephant, known as a kumki, has successfully deterred wild elephants from entering the Vellingiri Andavar temple in Poondi, Tamil Nadu, according to the Forest Department.
Following an incident last week where a wild tusker entered the temple grounds while it was crowded with devotees, the kumki Narasimhan was brought from the Anamalai Tiger Reserve. Since its arrival on Friday, no further intrusions have been reported. Forest officials attribute this success to Narasimhan’s presence, along with the construction of an elephant-proof trench around the temple. Twelve staff members are monitoring the situation around the clock.
A second kumki, Urigan, has been deployed in a neighboring area to patrol forest boundaries and prevent similar incidents. However, a separate incident occurred on Saturday night in Kalayanur, where a wild elephant damaged a house while searching for food and water.
The successful deployment of the kumki at the Vellingiri Andavar temple highlights the effectiveness of using trained elephants to manage human-wildlife conflict in the region. The ongoing efforts to deter wild elephants and protect both devotees and the local community continue.
First Piper 