Wild Elephants Force Temporary Closure of SVNP-Tirumala Route

Fast Summary:

• The forest department has issued a warning adn imposed a temporary ban on trekking through the Settigunta to Tirumala forest route in Annamayya district due to active wild elephant movement.
• Rajampet Sub-Collector nydia Devi urged people and devotees to avoid this trail until further notice for safety reasons.
• The path passes through the dense Sri Venkateswara National Park (SVNP),part of the Seshachalam biosphere,where signs of elephant activity such as dung,footprints,feeding trails,and trumpeting have been frequently recorded.
• Camera trap footage validated high wild elephant activity in this area.
• Officials emphasized that the unpredictable behavior of elephants, notably during food or water shortages, poses critically important risks to pilgrims using this path.
• Alternative and safer routes are being suggested for pilgrims traveling to Tirumala hills.
• Notably, on February 25, 2025, three pilgrims were killed and five others injured by a herd of elephants on a similar trail near Obulavaripalle in SVNP.

Indian Opinion Analysis:

The warning issued by authorities highlights an ongoing challenge when balancing conservation efforts with public safety. The Settigunta-Tirumala route’s location within the core zone of the Seshachalam biosphere underscores how human activities can intersect unpredictably with wildlife habitats. This incident underlines the necessity for clear interaction from officials to mitigate risks while preserving natural ecosystems.

Given past tragedies involving human-wildlife interactions-in which lives were lost-it becomes imperative that alternative pathways remain accessible for devotees while affected routes are closely monitored.Measures such as proper signage about potential dangers and increased surveillance could further enhance safety.this progress serves as a reminder of both India’s rich biodiversity and the complexities it brings in managing nature-human coexistence.

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