The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Tuesday directed the State to file a report to a public interest litigation petition that sought a direction to authorities to conduct scientific census for evaluating the ecological viability in and around Berijam lake in Kodaikanal in Dindigul district to be recommended for notification as a Tiger Reserve under Section 38 V of The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

A Division Bench of Justices N. Sathish Kumar and M. Jothirman was hearing the petition filed by advocate R. Manibharathi of Madurai. The petitioner also sought a direction to authorities to enforce permanent restrictions on commercial tourism and vehicular movements in and around Berijam lake.

He said Berijam lake is situated within the Kodaikanal Wildlife Sanctuary and it is a pristine freshwater reservoir. The lake and its surrounding forest area constitute one of the most ecologically sensitive and biodiversity-rich zones within the sanctuary. Due to its ecological significance, Berijam lake is historically accessible to tourists only in a controlled and restricted manner. The lake area forms a critical part of the wildlife movement corridor within the sanctuary.

He pointed out that recently a video of tigers spotted in Berijam lake was widely circulated on social media platforms. The confirmed sightings indicate the presence of more than one tiger in the area. This is a matter of highest ecological significance as tigers have not been documented as permanent residents of the Kodaikanal for the past decades, he said.

Following the sighting of tigers, the Forest Department restricted the tourist entry to the Berijam lake area to ensure public safety and to minimise human-wildlife conflict. The exact nature of the tiger population can only be conclusively determined through an independent and scientific assessment conducted by wildlife ecologists, he said.

Despite the ecological significance of Berijam lake, there is no comprehensive mechanism regulating tourist inflow, vehicular access, waste management and ecological monitoring. Tiger is a keystone species, its presence has cascading effects on the entire ecosystem. The sighting of Tigers in Kodaikanal, if confirmed as a resident population, would be a landmark conservation development of National significance, he said. The court posted the matter for hearing to June 25.