Conservation activists are opposing a ₹35 crore [1] modernization plan for the Theppakadu Elephant Camp in Tamil Nadu's Mudumalai Tiger Reserve.

The dispute highlights the tension between upgrading aging infrastructure and preserving sensitive wildlife corridors. Because the camp sits within a protected area, critics argue that construction could disrupt the ecological balance of the reserve.

The facility is more than a century old [1] and currently houses 27 elephants [1]. The proposed upgrades aim to modernize the site, but the location of the planned construction has drawn scrutiny from environmental experts.

Priya Davidar, a conservation biologist and member of the National Board for Wildlife, expressed concern over the project's footprint. The construction would take place in the core area of the tiger reserve and within crucial elephant habitat, she said.

"I have strong misgivings about the plan as it involves construction in the core area of a tiger reserve and crucial elephant habitat," Davidar said.

Activists argue that the core area of a reserve should remain free from significant new construction to avoid fragmenting the landscape. They suggest that the scale of the ₹35 crore [1] project may lead to irreversible damage to the local ecosystem, an area already vital for the survival of the region's elephant population.

“The construction would take place in the core area of the tiger reserve and crucial elephant habitat”

The conflict underscores a broader challenge in Indian wildlife management: balancing the welfare of captive or managed animals with the strict preservation of core tiger habitats. If the modernization proceeds, it may set a precedent for further infrastructure development within core zones, potentially impacting the migration and foraging patterns of wild elephants in the Mudumalai region.