In a tragic turn of events, a 70-year-old farmer named Sreedharan lost his life to a wild boar attack on his farm in Panoor, near Kannur, Kerala, on the morning of March 2, 2025. The incident, unfolding around 8 a.m., has sent shockwaves through the community and reignited concerns about human-wildlife conflicts in a state where such encounters are increasingly deadly.
Sreedharan, a resident of Vallayi in Panoor, was tending to his crops when the boar struck with ferocious force. His screams pierced the morning calm, drawing neighbors to the scene. They arrived to a harrowing sight: the animal relentlessly attacking the elderly farmer, its tusks inflicting severe injuries across his body. Despite their desperate efforts to drive the boar away, Sreedharan succumbed to massive blood loss before help could save him. The Kathirur police have launched a preliminary inquiry, though no First Information Report (FIR) had been filed by midday.
Kerala’s Forest Minister, A.K. Saseendran, responded swiftly, calling the attack unexpected for Panoor—a region not previously flagged as a wildlife conflict hotspot. Speaking to reporters, he announced that immediate reports have been requested from the Kannur District Collector and the Chief Forest Conservator to piece together the incident’s circumstances. “The area wasn’t on our radar for significant threats,” Saseendran admitted, pledging a thorough probe into potential lapses by forest and panchayat officials. He pointed to existing policy: local panchayats, including Panoor’s, have long been authorized to cull wild boars when they endanger lives or livelihoods. “If they failed to act, we’ll find out why,” he added.
This tragedy is no anomaly in Kerala, where human-wildlife clashes have claimed hundreds of lives in recent years. Between 2019 and 2024, the state recorded 486 fatalities from animal attacks, with wild boars responsible for over 55 deaths and 1,484 injuries in a similar timeframe up to 2023. In the current financial year alone, up to February 11, 2025, 57 people had perished—elephants topping the list with 15 kills. Sreedharan’s death marks yet another grim statistic, spotlighting a menace that blends stealth with aggression. In Panoor, a bustling area of farmland and small industries, wild boars have been a known nuisance, ravaging crops and occasionally turning violent. Yet, locals say this level of brutality was unforeseen.
The attack’s details remain raw. Sreedharan was likely watering or inspecting his crops when the boar, possibly startled or defending territory, charged. The injuries—described as widespread and likely from tusk slashes—proved fatal within minutes. What became of the boar—whether it fled into nearby woods or met a quick end at the hands of villagers—remains unclear as accounts trickle in.
The incident has stirred outrage and fear. On social media, residents vent frustration over unchecked wildlife incursions, with some branding Kerala’s rural fringes a “battleground.” It echoes a broader crisis: the same day, a wild elephant killed a domestic bull in Attappadi, underscoring the state’s struggle to balance human safety with ecological preservation. Kerala’s 2022 decision to classify wild boars as vermin, empowering panchayats to cull them, aimed to curb such threats. Yet, Sreedharan’s death raises stark questions about enforcement. Was Panoor’s panchayat asleep at the wheel, or did the threat simply slip through the cracks?
As investigators sift through the aftermath, pressure mounts on authorities. The Forest Department’s forthcoming report may redefine Panoor’s status, prompting tighter monitoring or culling drives—though such moves often ignite debates with conservationists.