Large parts of our South Indian forests are affected by fire in the months of summer. Further, elephant proof trenches are sometimes compromised by local villagers who bridge it to allow cattle grazing in the forest. This has led to elephants coming out of forests and causing damage to crops and lives.
To reduce these threats, Tamil Nadu Forest Department and Kenneth Anderson Nature Society (KANS) are conducting an awareness drive in the villages adjoining the forest. Teams go to the villages during mornings and evenings and talk to villagers about the necessity of preventing forest fire and maintaining the elephant proof trench (EPT). Public announcement system in the forest department vehicle is also used. Handbills, in Tamil, Telugu and Kannada, are distributed to the residents of villagers and wall posters are stuck at places where people gather.