Video: Wild elephant damages shops after entering temple premises in Coimbatore

A wild elephant created a stir in Vellingiri Hills, Coimbatore, as it entered the premises of a temple and raided nearby shops. The incident, captured in a video that has since gone viral, shows the elephant casually strolling through the temple archway, heading straight for shops stocked with fruits and coconuts typically sold as offerings or prasad.
The elephant spent time feasting on the goods, unbothered by attempts to scare it away. Shopkeepers and devotees watched helplessly as the elephant leisurely ate the items before eventually leaving the premises.
This marks the latest in a series of sightings of the same lone tusker in the area over the past two months.

The Vellingiri Hills, also known as the Southern Kailash, are part of the Western Ghats and are home to diverse wildlife. To minimise disturbances to these animals, devotees are typically allowed access to the temples only between February and May.
However, the recent increase in human activity and proximity to the wilderness has led to such encounters becoming more common.