Forest dept conducts awareness campaign (State of Tamil Nadu, India) The Times of India May 9, 2021 COIMBATORE: After videos of a group of tribal youths attacking wild elephants near Thirumurthimalai tribal settlement went viral on social media, forest department officials conducted an awareness campaign at four tribal settlements at Udumalpet and Amaravathi forest ranges in the Tirupur forest division on Friday. Additional director of Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR) K Ganeshram and officials from Amaravathi forest range conducted a session at the Manjampatti tribal settlement. They instructed tribal people to inform officials if they find wild elephants camping in the area. Anti-poaching teams would be deployed to drive away the animals, they were told. The officials later visited Kodanthur and Thirumurthimalai tribal settlements in Udumalpet forest range and warned tribal youths against attacking wild animals. “Tribal people are conducting farming near settlements. They were instructed to inform officials if wild elephants destroy crops. They should not try to chase away wild animals from fields or attack them,” said Ganeshram. Meanwhile, the three men who attacked the elephants are yet to surrender. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/coimbatore/forest-dept-conducts-awareness-campaign/articleshowprint/82488185.cms