Solar powered street lights installed to minimise negative human-elephant interactions in Gudalur

The Gudalur forest division is installing solar-powered street lights to provide better illumination in human-elephant interface areas in the region to prevent negative interactions between people and animals.

In a statement, the Gudalur forest division stated that following the death of a man in Machikolli area earlier this month, that they had learned that lack of lighting in the area could have led to the accidental encounter between the deceased and a wild elephant. “Since there were no street lights on Machikolli road where the incident occurred, the Forest Department has now installed two solar lights on the road to prevent such human-wildlife interactions in the future,” the release stated.

Additionally, as elephants were known to cross Allur Road in Gudalur, three solar-powered street lights had been installed to provide more illumination to help pedestrians and motorists navigate the area more safely, the Forest Department said.

“Similarly, in the Bitherkad Forest Range, where a person was killed in a wild elephant attack on an unlit road, two solar lights have been installed. Also, due to the presence of elephants in the Mullan Vayal tribal village, the Forest Department has installed a solar light in that location as well. All these efforts have been undertaken with the safety of the public in mind and with the objective of preventing human-animal interactions,” the Forest Department added.