With the body of British tourist Colin Manvell (69) who was killed by a wild elephant at Achakarai in Singara on September 19 still lying in the mortuary of the Government Hospital in Gudalur owing to administrative problems holding up an autopsy, the incident continues to be the talk of the area.
While forest officials are reportedly evolving ways to plug loopholes in wildlife tourism in order to keep visitors away from prohibited zones and also display prominently warning signs, residents particularly those in the hospitality sector are hoping that the authorities concerned will come out with clear cut guidelines.
Speaking to The Hindu some of them said that an end should be put to the blame game and rules which were ambiguous should be changed. Stating that the need of the hour is a brain storming session to spell out dos and don’ts in the area, Nagina Reddy, a resident and nodal official of the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) said that all the agencies should work in tandem.
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Rules should be framed in such a way that both officials and the people do not violate them.