TN Forest department clears bushes around railway track to aid loco pilots
spot presence of wild elephants
The New Indian Express
March 30, 2024
The forest department has started clearing the wild growth of invasive
plant species near the railway track at the Madukkarai forest range. This
is done to help loco pilots spot the presence of wild elephants alongside
the railway line and thereby to control the speed of trains.
Clearing bushes will also help the elephants to move from one location to
another and reduce chances of being hit by trains. The work was carried out
based on the instructions of Conservator of Forests S Ramasubramanian and
District Forest Officer N Jayaraj.
“We have started clearing Seemai Karuvelam trees on 90 hectares and Lantana
camara plants on 50 ha at Solakkarai forest beat in Navakkarai Pirivu in
the range,” said Madukkarai Forest Range Officer R Arun Kumar.
“Enormous bushes of both Seemai Karuvelam and Lantana camara block the view
of the wild elephants in railway lines A and B. We have been clearing 100
meters from two sides of the track and the clearing of bushes will also be
helpful for us to view the elephants and drive away them inside the forest.
Moreover, the elephant movements are detected using the AI cameras that
were setup to monitor the movements of the wild elephants and prevent them
from being hit in the train,” said Arunkumar
Both Seemai Karuvelam (Prosopis juliflora) and Unni chedi (Lantana camara)
are invasive species. Their bushes pose high chances of forest fire.
Clearing them helps to avoid forest fires in the coming months since the
summer heat is increasing day by day. The clearing work commenced a month
ago and is expected to be over in the coming days.
The official said that these invasive species are being cleared for the
first time after several years. There is no plan to plant saplings in the
area as it would block the view of elephants.
https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2024/Mar/31/tn-forest-department-clears-bushes-around-railway-track-to-aid-loco-pilots-spot-presence-of-wild-elephants
TN Forest department clears bushes around railway track to aid loco pilots
spot presence of wild elephants
The New Indian Express
March 30, 2024
The forest department has started clearing the wild growth of invasive
plant species near the railway track at the Madukkarai forest range. This
is done to help loco pilots spot the presence of wild elephants alongside
the railway line and thereby to control the speed of trains.
Clearing bushes will also help the elephants to move from one location to
another and reduce chances of being hit by trains. The work was carried out
based on the instructions of Conservator of Forests S Ramasubramanian and
District Forest Officer N Jayaraj.
“We have started clearing Seemai Karuvelam trees on 90 hectares and Lantana
camara plants on 50 ha at Solakkarai forest beat in Navakkarai Pirivu in
the range,” said Madukkarai Forest Range Officer R Arun Kumar.
“Enormous bushes of both Seemai Karuvelam and Lantana camara block the view
of the wild elephants in railway lines A and B. We have been clearing 100
meters from two sides of the track and the clearing of bushes will also be
helpful for us to view the elephants and drive away them inside the forest.
Moreover, the elephant movements are detected using the AI cameras that
were setup to monitor the movements of the wild elephants and prevent them
from being hit in the train,” said Arunkumar
Both Seemai Karuvelam (Prosopis juliflora) and Unni chedi (Lantana camara)
are invasive species. Their bushes pose high chances of forest fire.
Clearing them helps to avoid forest fires in the coming months since the
summer heat is increasing day by day. The clearing work commenced a month
ago and is expected to be over in the coming days.
The official said that these invasive species are being cleared for the
first time after several years. There is no plan to plant saplings in the
area as it would block the view of elephants.
https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2024/Mar/31/tn-forest-department-clears-bushes-around-railway-track-to-aid-loco-pilots-spot-presence-of-wild-elephants
