Wild tusker Chakkakompan uses cleared elephant passage to move to national park in Keralam's Idukki

In a positive sign towards mitigating human-wildlife conflict in Chinnakkanal under the Devikulam forest range, a wild tusker locally known as Chakkakompan has moved into the Mathikettan Shola National Park through a newly cleared natural elephant passage at Panthadikkalam near Chinnakkanal.

According to High Range Circle Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF) D.K. Vinod Kumar, the Forest department dismantled illegal fences that had obstructed traditional elephant passages, acting on a recent directive issued by the Idukki District Collector.

"Following the recent death of a tribal farmer at the Panthadikkalam settlement, the department removed a fence at the adjacent RS Estate. Once the barrier was cleared, Chakkakompan used the route to migrate towards Mathikettan Shola National Park," Mr. Kumar said.

Devikulam Forest Range Officer E.D. Arun Kumar noted that the tusker had remained confined to the area for the past 18 months because of the obstruction. "Once we reopened the natural passage, the animal moved towards Mathikettan," he said.

Petition in HC

Meanwhile, the owner of RS Estate has petitioned the High Court, alleging that the Forest department illegally dismantled fencing on his titled property.

"The fence was removed from encroached land, and the department will submit a statement of facts before the court. We have received no other complaints regarding the clearance of fences in the Devikulam range," said Mr. Kumar.

Forest officials highlighted that the tusker's relocation proves that clearing natural corridors significantly reduces conflict. "Elephants exhibit aggressive behaviour when their traditional migration routes are blocked, which often leads to fatal encounters," an official explained.

Three passages

Authorities have identified three primary elephant passages currently obstructed in Chinnakkanal: the passages connecting Mathikettan-Thondimala to Chinnakkanal, the path from Shankarapandyamettu to the PPK Estate, and the passage between Devikulam and Old Devikulam.

Despite protests from local farmer organisations and political outfits against the removal of perimetre fencing and barriers, the district administration and the Forest department are pushing forward with the clearance drive across the range.

Surge in casualties

Officials emphasised that the initiative follows a sustained surge in casualties in fringe forest areas. District administration data reveal that wildlife conflict claimed 81 lives and injured 486 people over the past decade.

The figures show 2023-24 recorded 10 deaths and 79 injuries, while 2024-25 saw seven fatalities and 103 injuries. Within the first nine months of this year alone, wild elephant encounters have killed five people and injured 13, with plantation laborers, smallholders, and tribal residents bearing the brunt of the attacks.

Officials added that the department still plans to capture and translocate two persistent problem elephants from Chinnakkanal -- Chakkakompan and a female elephant known as Murivali.

"We intend to capture and translocate at least one elephant before December," an official said, noting that the district administration has formally requested the translocations of the two problematic elephants in the area.

Officials maintained, however, that Chinnakkanal hosts between 17 and 18 wild elephants, making mass capture and relocation unfeasible.