Heavy influx of elephants; more than 150 sighted in 16 places

With human-animal conflict heightening in Valparai due to the influx of a number of elephants, Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR) officials have stepped up conflict mitigation efforts by deploying more forest personnel to monitor herd movement and alert people. The officials embarked on a mapping exercise to bring in conflict mitigation mechanisms in Valparai town and surrounding areas, said Rajiv K. Srivastava, Field Director of Anamalai Tiger Reserve.