In yet another tragic instance of human-wildlife conflict, an elderly tribal couple was trampled to death by a wild elephant at Aralam Farm in Kerala’s Kannur district on Sunday evening, officials confirmed. The victims, identified as Velli (82) and his wife Leela (74), were residents of the farm’s 13th block and were collecting cashew nuts when the elephant fatally attacked them.
This incident marks the 11th fatal wild elephant attack in the Aralam Farm region over the past six years, heightening fears among residents and sparking renewed protests against the Forest Department’s inaction.
According to local residents, the couple was foraging for cashew nuts at Karikkanmukku when the elephant, which had strayed from the nearby forest, suddenly charged at them. Witnesses reported hearing the couple’s cries for help, but by the time anyone could respond, the elephant had already inflicted fatal injuries.
Forest Department officials later recovered the bodies and transported them to a government hospital for post-mortem. However, tensions flared as angry locals blocked the police from conducting inquest procedures, demanding the immediate presence of senior forest officials at the site.
“The bodies were found in a horrifying state, brutally mutilated on the road,” said the local block panchayat president.
Residents, frustrated with repeated wildlife attacks, staged a protest with the couple’s bodies, refusing to release them until the government provided concrete assurances of action. Protesters accused the Forest Department of failing to implement effective measures to prevent such tragic encounters despite frequent elephant incursions.
Sunday’s incident has once again brought to the forefront the increasing human-wildlife conflicts in Kerala. The Aralam Farm region, in particular, has witnessed a surge in elephant-related fatalities in recent years, with local communities living in constant fear.
“The Forest Department has been ignoring our pleas for years,” said a protester. “How many more lives need to be lost before they take action?”
As the protest escalated, political representatives, including local MLA Sunny Joseph, and forest officials intervened to pacify the demonstrators. Following prolonged negotiations, the victims’ bodies were finally moved to Government Pariyaram Medical College for autopsy procedures.
Kerala Forest Minister A.K. Saseendran expressed his condolences over the deaths, calling the incident “deeply unfortunate.” He assured residents that the government was taking the matter seriously and had instructed the Forest Department to intensify efforts to prevent further elephant incursions into human settlements.
“The department has been directed to take immediate measures to drive elephants away from residential areas,” Saseendran said in a statement. “A meeting will be held soon, involving local representatives, forest officials, police, district administration, and residents to discuss long-term solutions to the issue.”
Despite these assurances, public skepticism remains high, with many locals believing that government interventions often come too late and lack long-term effectiveness.
Sunday’s tragedy is part of a broader pattern of increasing human-animal conflicts in Kerala. According to official data, Kerala has witnessed a sharp rise in wild elephant attacks in recent years, resulting in multiple fatalities and significant property damage.
Experts attribute this growing conflict to habitat destruction, shrinking forest cover, and erratic migratory patterns of elephants due to human encroachment. Wildlife conservationists point out that as forests dwindle due to deforestation and agricultural expansion, elephants are forced to venture into human settlements in search of food and water.
“This is not just a problem in Kerala,” said a wildlife expert. “Across India, elephant habitats are shrinking, and unless serious conservation efforts are undertaken, these conflicts will only escalate.”
Residents of Aralam Farm and nearby villages have long demanded permanent solutions, including better fencing around forest boundaries, more effective early warning systems, and the relocation of rogue elephants.
One of the key demands is the erection of solar-powered electric fences and trenches along critical points of human-animal conflict zones. While the government has implemented some measures, including elephant corridors and awareness programs, their effectiveness has been questioned.
“The electric fences put up earlier have either been damaged or are ineffective,” complained another protester. “We need real solutions, not temporary fixes.”
Many have also suggested the use of radio collars on problem elephants to track their movements and prevent surprise attacks.
The rising human-animal conflict in Kerala has become a politically sensitive issue. With recurring deaths and growing public anger, opposition parties have criticized the ruling government for its lack of proactive measures.
“The government wakes up only after people die,” said an opposition leader. “We need a comprehensive policy that ensures the safety of both humans and animals.”
Environmental activists, meanwhile, argue that simply driving elephants away is not a sustainable solution. They advocate for coexistence strategies that involve habitat restoration, controlled migration routes, and community participation in conservation efforts.
“The real issue is deforestation and habitat fragmentation,” said an ecologist. “Unless we address these root causes, elephants will continue to enter human settlements.”
As Kerala grapples with increasing incidents of man-animal conflict, authorities are under immense pressure to find a sustainable and humane solution. While short-term measures such as deploying rapid response teams and reinforcing fencing might help, experts emphasize the need for long-term ecological strategies.
For the residents of Aralam Farm, however, the urgency is immediate. Until tangible actions are taken, the fear of another tragic encounter looms large.
“We are living in constant fear,” said a grieving relative of the victims. “We don’t want any more deaths. We need action now.”
With protests intensifying and public anger mounting, all eyes are now on the Kerala government to see whether it will finally take decisive steps to protect both human lives and the state’s fragile wildlife.
- An elderly tribal couple was trampled to death by a wild elephant in Kerala’s Kannur district.
- This marks the 11th fatal elephant attack in the Aralam Farm region in six years.
- Locals staged protests, demanding immediate and long-term solutions to the recurring wildlife incursions.
- Kerala’s Forest Minister has promised swift action, but skepticism remains.
- Experts stress that deforestation and habitat loss are key factors behind increasing human-animal conflicts.
As the state debates solutions, the residents of Kerala’s forest-fringe villages continue to live with an ever-present threat—one that calls for urgent, lasting, and humane interventions.
