The Hosur forest division and adjoining forests are Home to about 300 elephants. Many of these animals regularly move into contiguous, adjoining forests of Karnataka and through a series of small forest patches northward into Chittoor forests of Andhra Pradesh. The southward movement of these elephants takes them to the Cauvery River.
Radio-collaring of elephants ranging in the northern fragmented habitats of the Hosur forest division is vital to preempt elephant occurrence in conflict regions or around high-risk areas such as highways, human habitations and crop fields.
Collaring of elephants ranging in the more contiguous habitats closer to the Cauvery wildlife sanctuary in the southern Hosur forest division would help in understanding habitat use and decision-making about this elephant Population and to develop movement and habitat use models for the entire population.
The Average herd size recorded in this region is around 10 and, at times, they range in group-size as large as 70, especially during the season. By collaring a few select adult females, one would, in fact, be able to gather fine-scale information on a large sub-set of the population.