Tusker found electrocuted in TN village

A tusker was electrocuted after it apparently came into contact with an illegal high-voltage electric fence erected around a farm in Maavellam forest under the Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve in the district.
Forest officials registered a case and arrested the owner of the farm Mani after the elephant, aged around 20 years, was found dead near the farm in Attapadi village last evening, a Forest department release here said today.
The farmer had electrified his fence around the land to prevent damage to standing crops, especially sugarcane, by wild animals.
It was suspected that high voltage electricity was connected to the fence and the elephant died on the spot after coming into contact with it, the release said.

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Meanwhile, the Southern Railway said it was "unfortunate" that a female elephant was hit by a train despite various steps taken by it and listed out its various measures to prevent the casualities in Kanjikode-Walayar-Ettimadai-Madukarai section.

The incident of loosing a valuable wild life has occurred after a gap of six years in spite of the train running at slow speed as the pachyderm suddenly crossed the track, a release from the Southern Railways's Palakkad division said.
Speed restriction of 45 kmph against normal speed of 65 kmph in the section was introduced during night.
In an effort to distract elephants from railway track during night, solar powered LED lights have been installed, it said.

Digging of water ponds to thwart animals crossing the tracks and creating awareness among the passengers to not throw food items on the tracks along the forest area were other steps taken in this direction, the release said.
However, a permanent solution for the problem is the contruction of an elephant crossing corridor under the railway track or sub-ways and complete fencing on both sides of the track on this section.
A Rs 4.31 crore proposal has been made to implement the measures effectively and railways were open to fund from MPLAD or through corporate social responsibility if the Forest Department finds it difficult to provide funds, the release said.