COIMBATORE: The Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) on Monday expressed concern over the increasing incidents of human-elephant conflict in Coimbatore district, warning that the issue could soon become one of the region’s most pressing challenges if immediate conservation measures are not implemented.Addressing reporters here, PMK district secretary Kovai Raj said the recurring human-elephant conflict should not be viewed merely as a wildlife issue but as a larger social and environmental concern. He stated that Coimbatore recorded the highest incidence of human-elephant conflict in the country and stressed that the destruction of elephant habitats had aggravated the situation. He said around 150 people had lost their lives in the past 15 years due to human-elephant conflict.Linking the issue to climate change, Raj said the effects of the El Niño phenomenon, including prolonged droughts and spells of intense rainfall, were becoming increasingly severe. He argued that deforestation had contributed significantly to climate change and highlighted the crucial ecological role played by elephants in maintaining forest ecosystems.Referring to the Tamil Nadu forest department’s draft report on elephant corridors, Raj said nine notified elephant corridors pass through Coimbatore district, making habitat protection in the region particularly important.He alleged that large-scale illegal quarrying in the Thondamuthur region had damaged elephant habitats. Citing recent observations of the Madras high court, he claimed that extensive mineral extraction had severely altered the landscape, affecting the movement of wild elephants.Raj said, “The Anaikatti-Thadagam region, an ecologically sensitive landscape supporting rich biodiversity, has witnessed rapid growth of private resorts and tourism-related developments, which have obstructed traditional elephant pathways and increased the likelihood of encounters with humans.”Calling for stricter enforcement of environmental regulations and protection of elephant corridors, Raj said PMK would intensify its campaign on the issue under the leadership of Dr Anbumani Ramadoss. He urged the state govt to take immediate steps to conserve forests, prevent further habitat destruction and evolve long-term measures to mitigate human-elephant conflict.