On #WorldElephantDay2022, I'm glad that Tamil Nadu gets its 5th Elephant Reserve at Agathiyamalai in Tirunelveli District . Elephants play a...

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin welcomed the official notification of the state's fifth elephant reserve at Agathiyamalai in Tirunelveli district, coinciding with the global observance of World Elephant Day. Spanning over one thousand one hundred square kilometres across the southern Western Ghats, the Agathiyamalai Elephant Reserve reinforces institutional protections for critical wildlife habitats, secures historic migratory corridors, and enhances ecological biodiversity across southern districts.

Stalin underscored that Asian elephants serve as crucial keystone species that maintain forest ecosystems, disperse native plant seeds, and sustain natural water cycles essential for peninsular rivers. He emphasized that the magnificent mammals represent irreplaceable natural assets that society must conserve through robust anti-poaching measures, systematic habitat restoration, and proactive mitigation of human-wildlife conflicts along forested boundaries.

The Chief Minister reaffirmed that environmental sustainability and wildlife preservation remain top governance priorities for his administration. He highlighted state initiatives such as the Tamil Nadu Green Mission, the Climate Change Mission, and expanded forest reserves, affirming that Tamil Nadu will continue leading India in balancing industrial development with scientific ecological conservation for current communities and future generations.