Elephants Trample Two Tribals To Death! Increasing Wildlife Conflict in Kerala
Kerala Mourns as Wild Elephant Attack Claims Two Tribal Lives
A devastating wild elephant attack in Kerala’s Athirappilly forests claimed the lives of two tribal individuals, Ambika and Satheesh, on Monday night, police confirmed.
The victims, from a Vazhachal tribal settlement, were collecting forest produce when a herd of elephants charged around 7:30 pm. Their bodies were recovered Tuesday morning and sent for post-mortem at a state-run hospital. This tragedy follows another fatal elephant attack in Malakkappara, Thrissur, on Sunday, bringing the state’s two-day death toll to three.
The duo was part of a group staying in tents atop a rock to gather honey, a traditional practice. “A herd of elephants likely attacked at night,” a police officer said, noting a search is underway to ensure no others are trapped in the forest after fleeing in panic. The incident, the third fatal elephant attack in Thrissur within 48 hours, has sparked outrage over escalating human-wildlife conflict.
Also Read: Tragic End in Bulandshahr! Lovers Found Hanging from Mango Tree
Congress Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan slammed the state government and Forest Minister A K Saseendran for inaction, alleging they’ve left forest-fringe communities vulnerable. “Eighteen lives lost to wildlife attacks this year, yet the government does nothing,” Satheesan said, citing five deaths in February alone.
He demanded special surveillance teams at elephant-prone areas and criticized Saseendran for dismissing attacks as inevitable in forests. “Tribals live there under the Forest Rights Act. It’s the government’s duty to protect them,” he asserted, questioning the minister’s tenure.
Kerala’s 30% forest cover and dense settlements near wildlife habitats fuel frequent conflicts, with 8,873 attacks reported in 2022-23, including 98 deaths. Satheesan urged immediate action to end the “unacceptable indifference” plaguing Kerala’s high-range areas, where fear of wildlife looms large.
Also Read: ED Raids Rajasthan Congress Leader Khachariyawas in Rs 48,000 Crore PACL Scam
