Premium

4 deaths in 48 hours as Kerala grapples with spate of elephant attacks

In the latest incident, the body of Balan, 27, was found trampled at Attamala, one of the landslide-ravaged villages in Wayanad. The incident happened at night while Balan, a tribal man, was returning home after buying provisions.

elephant attacksAccording to data from the forest department, 192 people have been killed and 216 seriously injured in Kerala from wild elephant attacks since 2016. Districts such as Malappuram, Wayanad and Idukki have the highest casualties.(Express Archives)

One more person was killed in an elephant attack in Kerala’s Wayanad Wednesday, bringing the total number of such deaths in the state in the last 48 hours to four. This comes at a time when the Kerala government is pushing for amendments to the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, to deal with escalating man-animal conflict in the region.

In the latest incident, the body of Balan, 27, was found trampled at Attamala, one of the landslide-ravaged villages in Wayanad. The incident happened at night while Balan, a tribal man, was returning home after buying provisions.

A search party that went looking for him found his body at a tea estate at Attamala.

Significantly, man-animal conflict in the region has escalated since the landslide last July, with the state’s ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist) as well as Opposition Congress seeking amendments to laws to deal with wildlife that pose danger to humans.

On Monday night, another tribal youth was killed in an elephant attack at Noolpuzha in Wayanad while two other deaths were reported in Thiruvananthapuram rural and Idukki districts.

According to data from the forest department, 192 people have been killed and 216 seriously injured in Kerala from wild elephant attacks since 2016. Districts such as Malappuram, Wayanad and Idukki have the highest casualties.

Meanwhile, six lives have been lost in tiger attacks since 2016, of which five were in Wayanad.

Shaju Philip is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, where he leads the publication's coverage from Kerala. With over 25 years of experience in mainstream journalism, he is one of the most authoritative voices on the socio-political, religious, and developmental landscape of South India. Expertise, Experience, and Authority Decades of Regional Specialization: Shaju has spent more than two decades documenting the "Kerala Model" of development, its complex communal dynamics, and its high-stakes political environment. Key Coverage Beats: His extensive reporting portfolio includes: Political & Governance Analysis: In-depth tracking of the LDF and UDF coalitions, the growth of the BJP in the state, and the intricate workings of the Kerala administration. Crime & Investigative Journalism: Noted for his coverage of high-profile cases such as the gold smuggling probe, political killings, and the state’s counter-terrorism efforts regarding radicalization modules. Crisis Management: He has led ground-level reporting during major regional crises, including the devastating 2018 floods, the Nipah virus outbreaks, and the Covid-19 pandemic response. ... Read More

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram

Latest Comment
Post Comment
Read Comments
Advertisement
Advertisement
Loading Taboola...
Advertisement