Five persons trespass into Sirumugai forest to spot elephant, fined ₹25,000
Five individuals were fined a total of ₹25,000 for trespassing into the Sirumugai forest range in Coimbatore to spot elephants. The group was reportedly influenced by social media content promoting wildlife sightings.
Why it matters
This highlights the growing challenge of 'social media tourism' and its negative impact on wildlife conservation and forest safety.
Five persons were booked for allegedly trespassing into the Nilgiri Eastern Slope Reserve Forest under the Sirumugai Forest Range in Coimbatore to spot an elephant.
Forest personnel, while conducting a patrol in the Uliyur beat of the Pethikuttai section on the evening of August 9, found that the five individuals had entered the forest illegally. Officials said the group had been attracted by posts on Instagram and YouTube about elephant sightings.
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