Three tourists who visited the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve were fined ₹20,000 for stopping an elephant calf and taking selfies with it on Thursday.
N. Mariappan, Forest Range Officer, Theppakadu Reception Range, who fined the three tourists, said a female adult elephant and her calf were foraging for food by the roadside. The three tourists, identified as J Sawanth Bala Sahib, 30, Abhijeey Savayave, 28, and Rohan Laxman Vanjari, 27, from Maharashtra, were fined a cumulative amount of Rs. 20,000 for various offences.
Mr. Mariappan said one of the men was seen petting the elephant calf even as the adult female was nearby. Leaving the car on the road, the men took selfies. Soon other tourists did the same.
Forest department officials said the District Collector had banned taking selfies inside MTR.
Officials have been taking strict action against those who were found feeding animals and trespassing into the forests.
