Forest dept. urges farmers to relocate goat sheds to prevent wildlife encounters in Chennimalai

With a leopard suspected to have killed a goat in Chennimalai recently, the Forest Department has urged farmers to relocate goat sheds located on patta lands adjacent to the forest area.

With a leopard suspected to have killed a goat in Chennimalai recently, the Forest Department has urged farmers to relocate goat sheds located on patta lands adjacent to the forest area.

On February 21, Kumarasamy, 58, of Kuttakadu village, discovered that one of his goats was missing and another dead with bite injuries. Pug marks near the shed resembled those of a leopard. Following the incident, the Erode Forest Range Office issued a cautionary notice to the public.

Pamphlets distributed to residents stated that the Chennimalai Reserve Forest, which extends up to Kangeyam taluk in Tiruppur district, comprises the hilly terrains of Arachalur Nagamalai and Vijayamangalam Arasannamalai. These hills serve as a corridor for various wildlife species, including tigers, leopards, deer, peacocks, and monitor lizards.

While predators like tigers and leopards do not permanently reside in the Chennimalai Reserve Forest, the area serves as a transit route, and domesticated goats kept in sheds near the forest become easy prey for them, the noitce said.

This situation could alter wildlife behaviour, increasing the likelihood of predators settling in the area permanently. As a result, human-wildlife conflicts may arise if these animals venture into human settlements in search of food.

To prevent such conflicts, residents have been advised to relocate their goat sheds immediately. Additionally, they are urged to install electric lights around their homes at night and avoid stepping outside unnecessarily after dark.