Forest Department video captures wild elephant’s attempt to breach five-year-old barricade in Hosur forest division.

 A wild tusker’s determined attempt to break through a reinforced iron fence in Tamil Nadu’s Jawalagiri range has been caught on camera by the Forest Department. The incident, recorded two days ago, shows the elephant testing the barricade’s strength but ultimately failing to breach it.

In the footage, the tusker leans heavily on the fence, resting its forelegs on the concrete-supported pillars and rocking back and forth in an effort to push it down. Voices in the background, believed to be of forest staff, can be heard trying to distract the animal and drive it away.

District Forest Officer (DFO) Jagdish S. Bakan confirmed that the fence — installed about five years ago — withstood the onslaught.

“The iron fence survived the pachyderm’s push. It did not breach the structure,” he said.

The intermediate-model iron fence, reinforced with concrete, was built as part of long-term elephant mitigation measures in the Hosur forest division. It is designed to prevent elephants from straying into nearby human settlements and agricultural fields — a recurring issue in the region.

Hosur, known for its elephant corridors, has seen frequent incidents of elephants entering farmland, causing crop loss, property damage, and occasional human injuries. The fencing system, according to officials, has been effective in reducing such encounters.

Wildlife experts note that while elephants are intelligent and persistent, strong, well-maintained barriers like the Jawalagiri fence can serve as a reliable deterrent. The Forest Department continues to monitor the area to ensure the safety of both wildlife and local residents.

This latest incident highlights the ongoing effort to balance wildlife conservation with human safety in elephant-prone areas. Officials say regular maintenance and strategic placement of barricades remain crucial to this mission.