The Forest Department on Saturday launched a helpline for people living along the fringes of forests to report the entry of wild animals into human habitations and prevent man-animal conflict. The launch coincided with the International Day of Elephants.
The Chief Conservator of Forest and the Additional Director of the Tamil Nadu Forest Academy, K.K. Kaushal, said that protecting elephants and their habitat had become a challenge. The number of Asian elephants was declining, and unless dedicated efforts were made, it would be difficult to protect the species, he said.
S. Ramasubramanian, Conservator of Forest, Coimbatore, stressed that conservation was not merely the job of the Forest Department, but everybody.
The Forest Department would join hands with Agriculture, Agriculture Engineering, Tangedco and other departments to protect the forest. Mr. Ramasubramanian said the helpline number, 1800 4254 5456, was connected to a control room, from where forest staff on the field would be alerted and would rush to the conflict spot.