Villagers in Thalavadi Hills face rising dangers from wild elephants damaging crops and causing deaths. On February 8, 2026, Mahesh, 28, from Karalavadi village was trampled to death while trying to chase elephants away from fields early Sunday. This tragic loss sparked protests, with locals blocking the removal of his body for over six hours. Yogesh Kumar Garg, Deputy Director of Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve, met with protesters led by S. Kannaiyan, Thalavadi Farmers’ Association president. Farmers demanded rail fencing, better elephant-proof trenches (EPTs), increased compensation of ₹20 lakh for deaths, and improved early warning systems. After releasing ₹10 lakh to Mahesh’s family, the protest ended. Since 2019, six farmers have died in elephant attacks here. Farmers say they lose sleep guarding fields from November to February. Kannaiyan said elephants hide in the Joraikadu forest patch by day and raid farms at night. The herd moves into Tamil Nadu from Karnataka, where EPTs are well maintained. He alleged that elephants are pushed over the border into Tamil Nadu. Villages like Arulvadi and Karalavadi suffer from breaches in trenches. While some trenches reduced conflict by 70%, others remain ineffective. K. Rajkumar, STR Field Director, linked elephants’ movement to changing crops in Karnataka. He warned that night chasing using many torch lights makes elephants aggressive. Authorities plan to improve warning systems and fix EPTs to protect farmers and reduce clashes. The conflict remains a serious challenge in the Thalavadi Hills.