Tamil Nadu notified three new elephant corridors on 28 August 2026 in the Cauvery North Wildlife Sanctuary in the Hosur Forest Division. The corridors are part of the trans-Cauvery movement route used by Asian elephants and other large mammals between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
Elephant Corridors in India
An elephant corridor is a narrow strip of habitat that connects two larger forest areas used by elephants for seasonal movement. India has several recognised elephant landscapes, including the Western Ghats, the Eastern Ghats, the North Bengal landscape, and the Brahmaputra valley.
Details of the Three Notified Corridors
- The Jawalagiri-Ulibanda-Thaggatti corridor measures 18.50 km in length and 0.73 km to 3.20 km in width.
- The Jawalagiri-Ulibanda-Thaggatti corridor covers 3,241.53 hectares.
- The Jawalagiri-Panai-Anchetty corridor measures 20.90 km in length and 0.80 km to 5.00 km in width.
- The Jawalagiri-Panai-Anchetty corridor covers 6,881.47 hectares.
- The Bilikkal-Jawalagiri corridor measures 2.20 km in length and 0.66 km to 1.50 km in width.
- The Bilikkal-Jawalagiri corridor covers 196 hectares.
Legal and Administrative Context
The Chief Wildlife Warden stated that all three corridors lie within reserved forest and sanctuary boundaries. No private land, public land, or revenue village is affected by the notification.
The Madras High Court bench of Justices N. Sathish Kumar and D. Bharatha Chakravarthy held on 31 July 2026 that removal of encroachments was not a prerequisite for corridor notification. The court also directed the Tamil Nadu government on 12 July 2026 to expedite notification for 41 ground-validated elephant corridors.
Survey and Verification Process
The Tamil Nadu government began a ground-verification study on 8 February 2025 with funding from the State Planning Commission. The study reassessed the ecological validity of corridors proposed by the Tamil Nadu Elephant Corridors Committee.
Important Facts for Exams
- Asian elephant is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
- India is home to the largest population of Asian elephants in the world.
- Elephant corridors are used to reduce habitat fragmentation and maintain genetic exchange between populations.
- The Madras High Court has jurisdiction over Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.
Protected Area Context
The Cauvery North Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Tamil Nadu and forms part of the larger Cauvery landscape. The Hosur Forest Division lies in the Krishnagiri district region near the Tamil Nadu-Karnataka border.
