Panel studying availability of elephant fodder in conflict-hit region in Idukki’s Devikulam range, say officials

Amid allegations from farmers’ groups that authorities are attempting to restore a wild elephant corridor in Chinnakkanal, officials said that an expert panel appointed by the District Collector is primarily studying wild elephant fodder availability in the conflict-hit region under the Devikulam forest range.

Following a surge in human–elephant conflicts and fatalities across Chinnakkanal, Rajakumari, and Santhanpara panchayats, District Collector Dineshan Cheruvatt recently appointed a four-member expert committee to identify the causes and suggest mitigation measures.

“The allegation that the panel was constituted to restore an elephant corridor is baseless,” a senior forest official said. According to the official, the team’s primary mandate is to assess whether the grass native to Chinnakkanal and surrounding hills are palatable for wild elephants and to determine whether the animals are entering human habitations in search of food or merely using these areas as transit routes.

High-risk zones

“Additionally, the team will evaluate habitat management strategies, including identifying suitable indigenous grass species to plant within the elephant habitats under the Devikulam range. The panel will also map high-risk zones that have witnessed recurring attacks,” the official added.

The panel comprises P. S. Easa, former director of the Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI) and member of the IUCN Asian Elephant Specialist Group; Rajan Pilakandy, scientist at KFRI; Jomy Augustine, retired Professor and former head of the Department of Botany at St. Thomas College, Pala; and Murukesan, a tribal community memberfrom Enpath Acre area, Chinnakkanal.

Report to Collector

The officials said the panel is continuing its field study and will submit a comprehensive report to the Collector shortly.

Meanwhile, areas under the Devikulam forest range remain perilous for local residents due to persistent elephant attacks. Four people have lost their lives in elephant encounters within the range in the past four months.