Elephant attacks rock Kerala again, two dead in Thrissur

Elephant attacks have shocked Kerala once again. On the night of April 14, two people who went to collect forest produce were killed by an elephant in the Athirapally region of Thrissur. On April 13, another youth from the neighboring region, Malakkappara, who went to the forest at night to collect honey, was also killed by elephants.

 

Satish and Ambika from Vazhachal Shasthapoovam Ooru were the ones killed by the herd of elephants on April 14. Meanwhile, it was 20-year-old Sebastian from Adichilthotti Adivasi Unnathi who got killed in Malakkapapra forest region. Two people who were with Sebastian, escaped from the tusker attack.

 

Kerala has been marked by a number of deaths due to wildlife attacks. In February, when five people were killed in a week, the forest minister had promised emergency measures.

 

Back then, the Catholic Church, which has a strong presence in the agrarian and farming communities in the near forest areas, sharply criticised Forest Minister A.K. Saseendran. Bishop Remigiose Inchananiyil of the Thamarassery Diocese had even demanded the minister’s resignation, questioning whether the government and the forest department bore no responsibility in preventing wildlife attacks.

 

In response, Minister Saseendran commented that the bishops’ demand for his resignation had a political angle. He also remarked that the generally positive “notion about bishops should not be tainted” by such statements.

 

In February, following back-to-back deaths, the forest department adopted a 10-mission plan to mitigate human-wildlife conflicts. This initiative was approved after a high-level meeting convened by the forest minister on February 12. The plan included advanced surveillance along the usual travel routes of elephants and other wild animals, as well as the formation of a volunteer force in areas prone to conflict. It also sought to leverage the knowledge and traditional wisdom of tribal communities to prevent such incidents.

 

Notably, tribal communities bear the maximum brunt of elephant attacks, as seen in the most recent fatalities.

 

Opposition leader V. D.Satheesan alleged that despite repeated demands for urgent action, the state government continues to remain inactive.

 

“By abandoning the people living on forest fringes to their fate, the government remains a silent spectator. It must act immediately to deploy special monitoring teams in areas with increased elephant movement and provide protection to the people,” he said.

 

Satheesan also criticised the forest minister for repeating what he called a worn-out excuse—that wildlife attacks occur only inside the forest.

 

“The two Adivasis who were killed today had gone into the forest to collect forest produce. In accordance with the Forest Rights Act, Adivasis can reside within forest areas. Ensuring their safety is the government's responsibility. The state is currently facing an unusual situation where wildlife attacks are happening daily. The government and the forest department, which have failed to confront the real issue, are the primary culprits in this crisis,” he said.

 

The forest minister has called the Athirapally deaths “unnatural” and has asked for a report from the chief wildlife warden.

India