Tamil Nadu's Neelakurinji Blooming Draws Attention Amid Safety Concerns
Rare Neelakurinji Flower Attracts Visitors
File image of the Neelakurinji, or Strobilanthes kunthiana(Photo: @itz__akshaya/X)
Nilgiris, July 28: The stunning bloom of the rare Neelakurinji flower in the Gudalur area has attracted numerous visitors recently, prompting the Tamil Nadu Forest Department to limit access to these flowering sites.
Officials have cautioned that the blooming areas are ecologically sensitive and often visited by wild elephants, making unrestricted access both harmful to the environment and potentially hazardous.
Neelakurinji (Strobilanthes Kunthiana), a shrub that flowers only once every 12 years, has been spotted in various locations such as Naadukani, Gudalur, Oosimalai, and O’Valley. This rare natural event has drawn nature lovers, photographers, and social media influencers, many of whom are eager to capture images and videos of the striking purple-blue flowers.
Forest officials expressed concerns regarding the safety of both visitors and wildlife due to the sudden surge in foot traffic.
The flowering areas are situated within or near forested regions that are crucial habitats and movement corridors for elephants and other wildlife. Increased human activity could disrupt these animals, harm the fragile ecosystem, and elevate the risk of human-animal interactions.
Ravi, the Forest Range Officer for Naadukani, noted that the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change classified Neelakurinji under Schedule III of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, in 2023, granting the plant legal protection.
He warned that individuals caught picking flowers or harming the plants could face imprisonment for up to three years, a fine of Rs 25,000, or both.
Officials highlighted that Gudalur is a significant area for human-elephant conflicts, with the blooming sites located in regions frequently traversed by elephant herds.
Despite multiple verbal warnings issued in recent days, many visitors continued to enter restricted zones, prompting the department to implement stricter measures to curb further violations.
The Forest Department has urged the public to refrain from visiting the Neelakurinji blooming sites and to acknowledge the ecological importance of the area. They have also requested that residents and visitors report any instances of trespassing, flower picking, or damage to the protected plants by calling the Gudalur Forest Division’s toll-free helpline at 1800-425-4353.