Sun Jul 06 07:59:26 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the text and a rewritten version as a news article:

**Summary:**

The Tamil Nadu government’s proposal to erect a 10 km steel wire rope fence in Coimbatore to mitigate human-elephant conflict (HEC) is facing opposition. A team of amici curiae, assisting the Madras High Court in forest-related cases, has raised concerns about the fence’s potential negative impact on elephant movement and mortality. They argue the fence could isolate elephant populations, increase conflict elsewhere, and that a scientific study is needed before proceeding. The Madras High Court has ordered a status quo on the project until a further hearing on July 25, 2025.

**News Article:**

**Elephant Fence Plan Sparks Debate in Tamil Nadu**

CHENNAI, July 6, 2025 – A controversial plan to erect a 10-kilometer steel wire rope fence in the Thondamuthur area of Coimbatore district, aimed at reducing human-elephant conflict (HEC), is facing scrutiny from the Madras High Court.

The Tamil Nadu government proposed the fence after reporting a significant number of elephant intrusions into human settlements (9,710 incidents in the past three years) and 147 deaths related to HEC between 2011 and 2022. Compensation paid to the families of the deceased amounted to ₹11.35 crore. The government argues traditional methods like trenches and solar fences have proven ineffective.

However, a team of amici curiae, appointed to advise the court on forest matters, has raised serious objections. They argue that the fence, placed on a steep slope with no buffer zone, could restrict elephant movement, increasing the risk of mortality and potentially shifting the conflict to other areas. They also highlighted that the government is in the process of creating elephant corridors and the fencing decision should be delayed until corridors are established and consolidated in the Coimbatore region.

“Closing off forests completely will solve problems locally but shift the conflict elsewhere,” the amicus curiae noted in their report to the court.

Justices N. Sathish Kumar and D. Bharatha Chakravarthy of the Madras High Court have taken the report on file and ordered a status quo on the fencing project until a further hearing scheduled for July 25, 2025. The court’s decision signals a cautious approach to the complex issue of managing human-wildlife interactions in the region.

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