Keralam Forest department removes fences, iron bars blocking movement of wild elephants in Chinnakkanal

The Keralam Forest department has removed fences and iron bars blocking the movement of wild elephants in Chinnakkanal here following demands from local tribal residents.

The decision came out of talks held between forest officials, tribal residents, and people's representatives at the Panthadikkalam tribal settlement under the Devikulam forest range, following the death of a tribal farmer. Vijayan, a resident of Panthadikkalam, was killed on the morning of September 23 in an attack by a wild elephant known locally as Chakkakompan.

Following the farmer's death, local residents staged protests demanding the immediate removal of barricades obstructing elephant passages in Panthadikkalam. During the talks, revenue and forest officials conceded to the demand, and an agreement was signed by the Munnar Divisional Forest Officer (DFO). Based on this agreement, the Idukki District Collector issued an order to dismantle illegal fencing along the migration passages.

"Based on the agreement with the tribal community, department officials removed the fences obstructing elephant movement in Chinnakkanal. The barriers had trapped the animals in Panthadikkalam, leading to the tusker camping in the settlement and causing the tragic incident," a forest official said.

Primary demand

C.V. Biju, a local tribal farmer, said fence removal had been their primary demand during the talks. "The day Vijayan was killed, I narrowly escaped an attack myself. Illegal fencing is the main hurdle blocking elephant passage. We met the District Collector in person and demanded its removal," he said.

"Once the forest officials cleared the barriers, the elephant issue subsided. The wild tusker Chakkakompan moved toward Mathikettan Shola National Park. But now that landowners have reinstalled the fences, we are once again facing the threat of elephant attacks," Mr. Biju added.

The Collector's order and the subsequent demolition drew criticism from private property owners, leading several to reinstall the barriers.

Notices issued

Devikulam Forest Range Officer E.D. Arun Kumar said notices have been issued to 14 landowners who reinstalled fences within the range. "A meeting with the landowners has been scheduled for October 22 to address the matter," the officer said, reiterating that the initial removal was carried out in response to firm demands from the tribal community.

Department sources confirmed that a report regarding the obstruction of elephant corridors in the Devikulam range has been submitted to the Devikulam Subcollector. The report urges the Revenue department to identify illegal encroachments on revenue land in Chinnakkanal and take decisive action to clear unauthorised fences across the area.