The chief minister, in his World Elephant Day message, said Union Minister for Environment and Forests, Bhupendra Yadav, who is joining the celebrations in Coimbatore, will also visit the AI-powered early warning system at Madukkarai.
File Photo: IANS
Calling for taking a pledge to keep elephants safe and free for generations to come, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Tuesday said the AI-powered early warning system put in place by the state at Madukkarai near Coimbatore had enabled 2,800 safe crossings of jumbos with zero train collisions since 2024.
The chief minister, in his World Elephant Day message, said Union Minister for Environment and Forests, Bhupendra Yadav, who is joining the celebrations in Coimbatore, will also visit the AI-powered early warning system at Madukkarai.
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“On this World Elephant Day, let us reflect on the vital role of elephants in shaping Tamil Nadu’s natural heritage and history…our AI powered early warning system at Madukkarai, which has enabled over 2800 safe elephant crossings since February 2024 with zero train collisions,” he said in a post on ‘X’, and cited setting up of eco-friendly houses at the mahout village for caregivers, a tiny township, at the Theppakadu elephant camp.
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The Chief Minister also posted a couple of photographs of himself feeding the pachyderms at Theppakadu during a visit in late June this year.
Conservationists have expressed serious concern over the expansion of the camp with the mini township, saying that it would pose a threat to the fragile ecosystem of the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR). It is a crucial elephant corridor, connecting Mudumalai and Bandipur Tiger Reserve in adjoining Karnataka. The Theppakadu camp and the tribal settlement are at the centre of this corridor, preventing the natural and free movement of elephants, it is said.
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