Wild elephants threaten lives and property in Munnar plantations

Repeated wild elephant attacks are threatening lives and property in Munnar’s plantation sector. Recently, a herd of three elephants damaged a parked autorickshaw at Nadayar Estate.

According to local residents, Balakrishnan, a resident of Nadayar North, on Monday parked his autorickshaw near the layams (cluster homes) after completing his trips. Later that night, the herd ventured into the residential area, destroyed the vehicle and trampled nearby vegetable gardens.

Plantation workers complain that elephants straying into residential areas has become a regular occurrence, thereby creating an atmosphere of fear and making workers hesitant to carry out plantation work.

Recently a wild tusker, locally known as Padyappa, destroyed a ration shop at Lakkad, near Devikulam. The shopkeeper, Vijayalakshmi, said the tusker consumed three sacks of rice and one sack of wheat. The shopkeeper said that wild elephants have attacked the shop nearly 11 times over the years.

Forest department officials confirmed the presence of wild elephants within in the area. Munnar Range Officer S. Biju stated that there are currently 23 wild elephants camping in inhabited areas under the Munnar range.

“Recently, two tuskers joined the herd and are currently camping in the Kallar area of Munnar,” Mr. Biju said.

“Forest department’s rapid response team and primary response team were closely watching the movements of wild elephants. The department is issuing timely alerts for the people,” said Mr. Biju.

“Our primary aim to avoid the human-wild elephant interactions and avoid causalities,” said the official.