French tourist killed by elephant near Mudumalai forest

By Gopal Ethiraj, Chennai
CHENNAI, 15 August (asiantribune.com): A French woman tourist was killed by a wild elephant at Bokkapuram, adjacent to the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, on Friday, and her son escaped with minor injuries when they went for wildlife sighting.

Both mother and son, Del Yotal Annie (65) Frederick Jean Lue (39), hailing from Neuilly Sir Marne in France arrived at Bokkapuram on Thursday and were staying in one of the private resorts, which have mushroomed the bordering reserve forest areas. And there a lot of touts to promise you to take into the wild for sighting for a price, and night safaris. They booked two such guides.

Early on Friday, they trekked to Viboothimalai near the resort, accompanied by the two locals. On spotting a herd of elephants, they tried to click pictures. An adult and a calf suddenly charged towards them. Ms. Annie was trampled, Fredrick and one of the local persons sustained injuries.

The spot where the incident took place was revenue grazing land. World Wide Fund for Nature Mohanraj said it was an “avoidable tragedy,” should be treated as an eye-opener. There was a need to regulate tourism in wildlife areas, and elephant corridors should be left alone, he said.

Field Director of Mudumalai Tiger Reserve Rajiv K. Srivastava said despite repeated warnings such incidents were taking place in wildlife habitats. He has displayed boards with warnings not to stop vehicles at the places of elephant corridors.

“Elephant population of late has increased, and incidents of pachyderm straying into human habitats is reported not only here, everywhere.” A survey is going on, and soon a solution would be found for man-wildlife safety, he said over phone to this correspondent.