A 25-year-old elephant was found dead due to electrocution near Thondamuthur in Coimbatore district on Thursday, October 23, 2025, highlighting the growing human-wildlife conflict in the region. The incident occurred in Raman Kuttai near Kuppepalayam, where the elephant strayed from the Thondamuthur forest range into a farmland late Wednesday night.

Forest Department officials reported that the elephant knocked down a high-voltage electric pole on the edge of a plantation, causing a live wire to fall and electrocute the animal instantly. A post-mortem examination confirmed electrocution as the cause of death. Authorities are investigating whether lapses in electrical line maintenance contributed to the tragedy.

The incident has alarmed Thondamuthur residents, who have faced frequent elephant incursions into farmlands and residential areas, leading to crop damage and fear. Just days earlier, a notorious elephant named “Rolex” was captured and relocated after repeatedly raiding crops in the area.

Conservationists urge stronger measures, such as insulated power lines and barriers, to prevent such incidents. The Forest Department is reviewing safety protocols, but the loss has sparked calls for better strategies to balance wildlife conservation with human safety in Tamil Nadu’s rural areas.

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