Kotagiri, Tamil Nadu: A tribal woman was seriously injured after being attacked by a wild elephant near Kotagiri in the Nilgiris district, triggering protests by local residents who demanded stronger measures to prevent recurring human-elephant conflicts in the region.

According to reports, the woman was attacked while moving through an area close to the forest, where elephant movement has become increasingly frequent. She sustained severe injuries and was rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment. Forest Department personnel reached the spot soon after the incident and launched efforts to monitor the elephant’s movement.

The attack sparked anger among villagers, who blocked roads and staged a demonstration, alleging that repeated warnings about elephant movement had not resulted in adequate preventive action. Protesters called for stronger safety measures, including improved early-warning systems, barriers in vulnerable areas, and enhanced patrolling to safeguard residents living along the forest fringe.

The Nilgiris landscape is one of India’s most important elephant habitats, but increasing interactions between wildlife and expanding human settlements have led to a rise in human-elephant conflict. Conservation experts stress that protecting elephant corridors, improving habitat connectivity, and involving local communities are essential to reducing such incidents while ensuring the long-term survival of Asian elephants.

Forest officials have urged residents to remain vigilant, avoid venturing alone into forest-edge areas during dawn and dusk, and immediately report elephant sightings to the authorities so that timely action can be taken.