Wild elephant rescued from well; residents protest official apathy

A WILD elephant fell into a deep well at a private property at Kottappady in Kothamangalam, sparking a standoff between local residents and forest department officials.

- EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @Kochi

The elephant, a young tusker, was saved after a portion of the well's wall was demolished, allowing the distressed animal to walk out.

The tusker, around 10 years old, fell into a well, used for drinking purposes, at the compound of Varghese, a native of Vadakkumbhagom near Kottappady, on Saturday night. However, the residents found the elephant only on Sunday morning. The villagers alleged that the forest department was not doing enough to address the growing threat from wild animals that frequently raid their crops and damage property. The villagers' frustration, fuelled by what they perceive as department inaction, led them to block rescue operations, demanding a long-term solution to the human-wildlife conflict.