A viral video from Coimbatore recently showed a majestic Elephant, nicknamed King Bahubali, crossing a busy road every evening at about 7.30 pm. and in the morning at 4.30 am. The Traffic comes to a halt, people wait in silence. No horns ,no chaos. The TN Government has ensured this safe passage, turning a potential conflict into a daily ritual of respect and co- existence.
This scene feels deeply familiar to Kodagu – or at least to the Kodagu of the past. Known for its dense forests, flowing rivers and mist covered Hills, the desha has always been home to Elephants , Bison, wild Boars, and countless species of birds. Long before roads cut through jungles and resorts uncomfortably perched themselves on Hilltops, the people of Kodagu lived with a deep reverence for Nature and all Her inhabitants.
Long ago, Kodavas and all who lived in Kodagu shared a similar bond with wildlife and natural surroundings. Dense forests, sacred groves and a lifestyle rooted with reverence to nature ensured that Man and Animal co-existed peacefully. In the days gone by, the Rules for the Hunt was well established. At best the colonial period of occupation was a major aberration where the irresponsible hunted for trophies and some locals joined in the reverie.
Elephants were revered, not feared. But urban expansion, uncontrolled clearance of pristine cardamom areas and trees for new coffee plantations and “disturbed” ancient corridors for movement of the pachyderms have grossly upset this balance.
Amongst the most devastating realities is the sacrilegious and irresponsible encroachment of Devakadus, a sanctuary and safe haven for wild animals and a thriving area to preserve biodiversity. Elephants are now deprived of shelter and food, making them venture deeper into human settlements. Man- Animal conflict rises, leaving behind fear, injuries, and deaths – of both people and Animals.
Restoring and protecting Devakadus is not only about saving forests, it is about reviving a tradition where nature and culture co-existed. Policy, science and local belief must work together – fencing off groves, replanting native species and involving local communities in preservation is the immediate need of the hour. Because every sacred grove saved is not just a forest patch – it is a sacred sanctuary for peace, for balance and for Kodagu’s future.
The Coimbatore model shows what can happen when humans Show respect and make space for nature. But Kodagu doesn’t just need to learn from others – it needs to remember itself. Long ago, people here understood that living alongside wildlife was not a burden, but a blessing. Today, policies like designated Elephant corridors, underpass, and stricter controls on encroachment are crucial. Yet, beyond infrastructure, Kodagu must revive its cultural values of respect for Nature.
Finally, as Kodagu’s landscape changed, so did this relationship get exacerbated in the name of progress with the construction of highways, mushrooming homestays and resorts and uncontrolled encroachment into forest areas. These have seriously impacted and fragmented elephant corridors. Natural food sources have dwindled, forcing elephants into villages and plantations in search of for basic existence. Elephant movement is now unpredictable and often leads to fatal encounters. A summary of the reasons is given below:
- Loss of fruit bearing trees and bamboo in forests forces Elephants to seek food in villages and plantations.
- Expansion of human settlements into the shadow of forests peripheral areas brings people directly into elephant pathways.
- Homestays, Resorts and Highways block traditional migratory routes.
- Irregular rainfall and drought impact forest vegetation, pushing Animals towards cultivated lands.
- Deforestation and monoculture plantations (Teak, Acacia, Silver Oak) offer little food value for wildlife.
- Lack of connected green pathways between Nagarhole, Brahamagiri and Pushpagiri forest ranges has pushed Animals into villages.
The results have been tragic. In the last five years alone over 40 people have died in Elephant related incidents in Kodagu. Elephants too have lost their lives – electrocuted by fences, trapped in trenches, injured by Human retaliation. Fear has replaced reverence. Where once stood a forest path, there now stands a barricade of aggression and fear.
As Kodagu struggles with rising Elephant encounters, perhaps the answer lies in the wisdom of our ancestors – who understood that Forests, Gods and Animals are threads of the same fabric.
If Coimbatore can protect Bahubali, why can’t Kodagu revive its lost Harmony? The solution lies not only in modern measures like drones, relocation projects and electric fencing – but also in remembering Ancient wisdom. Sacred groves, respect for wildlife and shared stewardship of the land must return – because when an elephant walks under the moonlight, it carries the soul of Kodagu’s heritage. Protecting their path is not an act of charity – it is an act of remembering who we once were – RESPONSIBLE COEXISTENCE.
It a very well written article. But as humans we fail to understand that elephant too have evolved to keep up the pace with the changing world. Going by traditional knowledge people avoided conflict by delebrately not crossing paths with them and vice versa. Crop protection was easier when paddy was the main crop. Now with diversified crops elephant have diversified their diet as well.. They now forage on most of the fruits grown in a coffee estate where traditionally it was only Jackfruit and plantain. What makes matters worse is that most of fruit trees are perennial in nature and may take years to grow and an overnight’s raid by elephants would reduce it to nothing else than a pile of firewood. This is where conflict arises. Co-existing with elephants can only happen when lives and livelihoods are not at stake.
Talking about our forests and Devakadus, it has degraded to an extent that it requires community participation to bring back life into it. The reserve forests have been chocked by lantana and other invasive species that does not allow natural regeneration of native vegetation. It’s time we consider teak monoculture as a man made disaster to our forests.
Elephants are also called “landscape architects” the shape the world around us, this has to be accepted.
The article is poignant reminder of the fragile bond between humans and nature that once defined kodagu. Brilliant write up
The article is a poignant reminder of the fragile bond between humans and nature that once defined kodagu. Thank you for bringing this critical issue with such sensitivity. May this peice inspire policy makers and citizens alike to restore what kodagu has lost and preserve what little remains. Brilliant write up.
Well written. The way forward is Compassion and Awareness.
. Adequate food in the forest – undertake project on a PPP basis (Public, Private Partnership). There are many best practices that have been well established across the world
.Elephant corridors are as old as the hills – respect them and go with the flow. If they are “blocked”; it is cause for them to stray. They have a right to existence as much as humans do.
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This article is not just about elephants — it’s about our respect and oneness with Nature ; it was the very foundation of our culture and identity. Somewhere along the way, we have become “entitled“ and forgotten that everything in life is not to be evaluated in monetary terms.
It’s time we reconnected with that wisdom before the damage becomes irreversible.
1. All that is alive is sacred.
2. All life is connected and interdependent.
Very well written article. When I watched the video of Bahubali crossing the road and mutual respect between human beings and the animal, I was astonished. May be adapting the same model in Kodagu might be a herculean task as we are dealing with herds of elephants,nevertheless coexistence is definitely food for thought.
The reasons listed out in the article for the fatal encounters is true and we all have to take necessary steps to protect the forest land. Elephants are herbivores and I dont think we need rocket scientists to figure out a way to satisfy their hunger. We need government to take necessary steps, instead of the usual gimmick of chasing the wild elephants to forest. Hope better sense prevails.
This is a very touching article which triggers the nature loving passion of every kodava and those residing in kodagu. Yes during days of yore HUMAN ANIMAL CONFLICT was a term alien to majority in kodagu because there was harmony between the two and never a Conflict because primarily there was mutual respect for eschother.
Come consumerism and greed to amass wealth beyond ones normal means, Nature was plundered recklessly leading to the oft repeated cliche HUMAN ANIMAL CONFLICT. Sadly this has reached alarming proportions and the fear is if the normal balance between humans and animals can be restored. The coimbatore model is a very good one where the government has understood that Animals need to be given their space without encroaching into their territory. In Kodagu unless forests are restored and left alone as forests without using them for timber the task of bringing back harmony between humans and animals is not only going to be herculean but is going to remain a pipe dream.