When an elephant enters a village or the border between urban and rural area, not only does the giant panic the public but it attract large crowds instantly. To manage the public, Police officials are needed on ground.
If the elephant is going amok near railways, railway department’s support is needed. If the location is near farm land where power supply is provided, then EB’s coordination is important, and when the tusker accidentally slips into a pit or well, Fire & Rescue department’s assistance is key.
Hence Project Kaliru was established by Tamil Nadu Government in 2015 to bring all these departments together to take measures that help in reducing human–wildlife conflicts and increas human–wildlife coexistence.
On Wednesday, the Coimbatore Division of TN Forest Department, Coimbatore City and Rural Police and Nature Conservation Society (NCS) – Coimbatore organized the 4th edition of Kaliru 4.0 through which it facilitated a platform for stakeholders to share the challenges and discuss the ongoing support required moving forward. It was held at PSGR Krishnammal College for Women.
Coimbatore District Collector Pavan Kumar IAS, Inspector General of Police – West Zone, Ramya Bharathi IPS, Jalaluddin, President-NCS, officials from the Police Department, Fire and Rescue Services, Revenue Department, and the Electricity Board (EB), representatives from NGOs like WWF attended. Yasodha Devi, Secretary, It was held at PSGR Krishnammal College for Women also joined the inauguration of the program.
Communities should be added as partners – District Collector Pavan Kumar IAS
Coimbatore district shares over 300 kilometers of forest boundary. This forest perimeter is shared across four districts bordering the state of Kerala.
Along this stretch of more than 300 kilometers, we encounter diverse terrains and distinct operational challenges. Our district possesses a very complex and diversified ecosystem. It is an extensive, diversified ecosystem directly adjacent to forest borders. We are working together to manage our responsibilities within this challenging and diverse environment.
We are faced with the dual responsibility of safeguarding the livelihoods of local residents while simultaneously ensuring the protection and statutory rights of wildlife.
In coordination with forest officials, we deliberate on the necessary precautionary measures, as well as the adoption of technological interventions, modern tools, and logistical support to mitigate these conflicts. Several of these measures have already been initiated in our district, and their tangible outcomes will become evident in the coming months.
Regardless of the administrative actions taken by the government, public cooperation remains vital. Therefore, local communities must be treated as an integral partner in every measure that is taken up.
Kaliru 4.0 is an opportunity to learn how to collaborate with local communities to resolve matters swiftly and effectively. This forum should be utilized by all participants to discuss the practical challenges you encounter.
We should strengthen our inter-agency synergy – IG West Zone, Ramya Bharathi IPS
When it comes to human-wildlife conflict, it presents a formidable challenge of trying to outpace nature itself. For years, innovative approaches have been explored from diverse perspectives to address this challenge, and it is from those deliberations that this integrated, inter-departmental approach was conceived.
In 2025, across the eight districts of the Western Zone, nearly 36 lives were lost to encounters with elephants, tigers, and leopards. Many innocent civilians tragically lost their lives, triggering subsequent law-and-order disruptions such as road blockades, agitations, and boycotts.
Human-animal conflict does not conclude with the tragic loss of life; it inevitably spirals into a severe socio-political crisis and an enduring challenge. Therefore, we must focus on strengthening inter-agency synergy during these critical windows.
Leverage of technology and instantaneous action hold the key to long-term solutions. Joint workshops like Kaliru 4.0 foster vital collaboration across departments, enabling field personnel to resolve on-ground crises with speed and efficiency.
