In a bid to entertain visitors, four employees at Avadale Resort in the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve were apprehended and detained for feeding a wild elephant. The incident highlights the dangers of human-wildlife interactions and raises concerns about the resort’s operations.
A male leopard that had been terrorizing residents in Vasai for over three weeks has finally been captured. The joint efforts of the Maharashtra forest department, wildlife NGOs, and researchers resulted in the successful capture of the big cat in the wee hours of Tuesday. The leopard had initially survived on stray dogs but later began preying on rodents found in abundance at the Vasai fort, where it was first spotted on March 29th. The capture of the leopard brings relief to local residents, who had been living in fear since its sighting. The fishing community, in particular, had been facing significant difficulties due to the closure of the Vasai fort road, which restricted their access to fishing grounds. With the leopard now in custody, the authorities have reopened the road, allowing the fishing community to resume their livelihood.
The Forest Department has issued guidelines for pilgrims trekking the Vellingiri hills near Coimbatore for Chithra Pounami. Pilgrims are advised to stay on designated routes, avoid carrying plastics, and pay a refundable fee for bringing water bottles. Discarding clothes in Andisunai stream is prohibited. Pilgrims should be mindful of wildlife, trek in groups, and seek medical clearance if they have certain health conditions. Bringing injured or deceased pilgrims downhill is challenging due to the rugged terrain.
