Elephant menace continues unabated in Kerala

EVEN as initiatives are progressing under various department and ministerial levels to bring down the rising wild elephant menace in Idukki district, wild elephant conflicts continue unabated in vulnerable areas like Munnar, Chinnakkanal and Santhanpara panchayats.

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In Munnar, where at least two deaths were reported in wild elephant attack this year, pachyderms straying into the estate areas repeatedly have sparked concern among the residents.

On Wednesday, around 8am, a rouge tusker strayed into residential area of Sevenmala estate spreading panic among the workers settled there.

Similarly, at factory division in Devikulam, a herd of wild elephants arrived in the estate area on Thursday early morning. After damaging the window panes of a grocery shop, owned by resident Balaji, they took away two sacks of salt stored inside it.