The Thekampatti, Nelli Malai, and Odanthurai areas of the Mettupalayam Forest Reserve in Coimbatore district have been seeing increased movement of wild elephants and other animals.
Wild elephants, in search of food and water, have made it a habit to leave the dense forest at night and enter nearby villages.
This morning, a lone wild elephant was seen walking on Mettupalayam Ooty Road. It entered a petrol station and then continued walking on the road. Motorists passing by took a video of the elephant as it broke through a roadside grocery store barrier in search of food. This video is now going viral on social media.
The movement of wild elephants has been increasing in recent days. While elephants occasionally entering villages is not new, their presence in the high traffic area of the Mettupalayam Ooty highway is causing fear among locals. There is a growing demand for the forest department to take action and drive the wild elephants back into the dense forest.