Kerala to restore elephant corridors in Athirappilly to ease human-wildlife conflict
The Kerala government will restore elephant corridors in the Athirappilly forest range as part of efforts to reduce the growing conflict between humans and wild elephants, Forest Minister Shibu Baby John announced on Tuesday.
Speaking after inaugurating the renovated entrance gate and forest shop at the Athirappilly Waterfalls tourism centre, the Minister said the state government was committed to being more responsive to the needs of local communities. He noted that the closure of traditional elephant routes, used by wild elephants while moving in search of water, had intensified human-wildlife conflict in the region.
“Blocking elephant corridors has increased the conflict between people and wildlife,” the Minister said, adding that the traditional routes would be restored. Elephant corridors are crucial for the movement of pachyderms between forest areas, allowing them access to food and water. Their disruption often forces elephants into human settlements, leading to property damage and occasional loss of life.
The Athirappilly forest range, located in Thrissur district, is part of the larger Anamalai-Pollachi landscape, home to a significant elephant population. The area has witnessed several incidents of conflict in recent years, prompting conservationists and local residents to urge the authorities to address the issue.
The Minister also mentioned that a special drive is currently under way in the state to push 18 elephants, which have been creating fear in human settlements, back into the forest. More than 100 forest officials and watchers are taking part in the operation, which the Minister said was being carried out at considerable risk.
The renovation of the entrance gate at the Athirappilly tourism centre was funded through the asset development fund of Saneeshkumar Joseph, MLA, the Minister said.
Meanwhile, a Forest department rapid action team had a close encounter with a wild elephant on Tuesday while attempting to rescue tourists who had ventured close to the animal on the Ezhattumukham Plantation road. The incident occurred near the Ezhuchani bridge area, where tourists spotted an elephant in an oil-palm plantation. Some of them got out of their vehicle to photograph the animal.
The elephant suddenly turned towards the tourists. Forest personnel who arrived at the spot rushed to help them, but found themselves directly in the elephant’s path. The elephant chased the department vehicle for nearly 200 metres. As the driver reversed to escape, they lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a culvert.
The loud impact startled the elephant, which turned away, allowing the forest personnel and tourists to escape safely. No injuries were reported.
Conservationists have long stressed the need to protect elephant corridors as a sustainable solution to human-elephant conflict. Restoring these pathways, they say, will allow elephants to move freely without straying into habitations, reducing the risk of dangerous encounters.
The Minister’s announcement is seen as a step in the right direction, though environmentalists have urged the government to ensure that the restoration is based on scientific mapping of elephant movement patterns and involves local communities in the effort.
